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The 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveals that over 1.1 million children, aged 5 to 17 years, were involved in various forms of work during the fourth quarter of 2023.
According to the GSS, approximately 893,000 of these children were engaged in employment work, which primarily consists of paid labor.
In a statement released to commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour, Government Statistician Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim explained that a majority of the children involved in different forms of work are male, accounting for 56%. Notably, half a million (458,443) of these working children are not enrolled in school.
He further noted that urban areas account for over 309,199, representing 28% of the working children, while rural areas have a significant share with 795,175 children, making up 72%.
From a regional standpoint, Prof. Annim indicated that the Ashanti Region has the highest percentage of working children at 13.6%, followed by the Bono East Region with 12.1%. Conversely, the Ahafo, Greater Accra, and Western North regions recorded the lowest percentages, with 0.8%, 1.6%, and 1.8%, respectively.
Additionally, he disclosed that the services sector employs the majority of working children, with 91.7%, while agriculture and industry sectors engage 4.8% and 3.6% of these children, respectively.
