Ghana–Japan Public–Private Partnership Against Child Labour Launched

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Ghana has reinforced its commitment to eliminating child labour with the launch of a major Ghana–Japan Public-Private Partnership initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the UNICEF.

The initiative seeks to protect vulnerable children while promoting inclusive and sustainable development across the country.

The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, reaffirmed government’s readiness to lead the coordination and ensure the effective implementation of the programme. He stressed that investing in children remains central to national development and cautioned against the long-term consequences of child labour.

Any development built on the labour of children is not sustainable. If we fail to protect our children today, we risk undermining the future of our nation, he stated.

Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, underscored the importance of collective action, describing the initiative as a shared responsibility among governments, communities, development partners, and the private sector.

This project is not the responsibility of one institution alone,” he noted. “It requires the combined efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that children are protected, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive.

The initiative, supported by Japan under the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, aligns with both global and national priorities aimed at promoting inclusive growth, human security, and sustainable development.

The Country Representative of UNICEF, Osama Makkawi Khogali, described the programme as a significant milestone in Ghana’s child protection efforts, emphasizing that it goes beyond a routine intervention.

This is more than a project launch; it represents a shared promise to the children of Ghana, he said, highlighting the urgency of tackling child labour, which continues to affect an estimated 1.1 million children across sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and mining.

He further highlighted the role of innovation in the initiative, explaining that the partnership will leverage Japanese technological expertise alongside Ghana’s national systems to strengthen data collection, expand social protection services, and ensure that at-risk children are effectively identified and supported.