Emmanuel Kojo Agyekum is the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kojo Agyekum, has cautioned against using cultural practices and economic hardship as excuses for child labour in Ghana.
He said protecting children from exploitation must remain a national priority, stressing that no child should be denied education or a proper childhood because of family circumstances or cultural expectations.
Speaking to Adom News at the 2026 Annual National Partners Forum in Accra, the Nkoranza South MP called for a clearer understanding of the difference between child labour and children helping their parents with appropriate household or family activities.
He stressed that such assistance should not interfere with a child's education, development or right to enjoy childhood.
“At no point should a child’s school time be taken away for activities that expose the child to labour. We must understand the difference between children helping their parents and subjecting children to child labour,” he said.
Agyekum also argued that Ghana's economic challenges should not be used to justify the exploitation of children. Instead, he called for measures to improve economic opportunities for families and reduce the pressures that expose children to labour.
He linked the fight against child labour to the need to strengthen local industries, questioning why Ghana should continue importing products such as concrete mixers when it has the capacity to manufacture them.
He also advocated increased local production of vehicles and other industrial products, saying this could help create jobs and boost the economy.
The minister announced plans for a national dialogue on job creation, arguing that decent and sustainable employment for adults would help address some of the conditions that push children into labour.
“We must build a country that has a future for its children. Creating decent jobs for adults is one of the important ways we can tackle the conditions that expose children to child labour,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to protect children from all forms of child labour.
She said the fight must move beyond discussions and commitments to practical interventions.
“Protecting children from child labour should not just be about talks. We must move from discussions to action and ensure that every stakeholder plays a role in addressing the problem,” she said.
The Shama MP also warned against the assumption that child labour only occurs when children help their parents with household or family activities.
“Some people believe child labour is simply about children helping their parents, but that is not the case. No household responsibility should deprive a child of education or interfere with the child’s development,” she emphasised.
She urged government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to strengthen efforts to protect children.
The 2026 forum was held under the theme: “Accelerating Action Against Child Labour: Building a Child Labour-Free Ghana Through Stronger Partnership.”
NA/BAI
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