At the serene town of Tutu Akuapem in Ghana’s Eastern Region, editors and media professionals gathered for a two-day workshop with a mission that transcends headlines-to help protect Ghana’s children from the hidden dangers of child labor in cocoa farming.
Kate Bird, the Communications Director of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), spoke passionately about why the media’s role is indispensable in this fight.
“We believe the Ghanaian media plays a very important role in tackling child labor and forced labor in cocoa,” she said. “The media can bring these issues to light, help society understand them, and most importantly, hold those in positions of power accountable.”
For over a decade, ICI has been at the forefront of promoting safer and fairer cocoa farming communities in Ghana. ICI work she indicated cuts across improving access to education, empowering women, and creating sustainable livelihoods-all of which are proven to reduce child labor and forced labor.
Through programs like Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS), trained agents she mentioned visit cocoa-farming households to identify children at risk, raise awareness among parents, and help affected families find safer alternatives.
According to Bird, these systems, when effectively implemented, can reduce child labor cases by up to 45 percent.
ICI’s principle of shared responsibility she stated means that, everyone from farmers and businesses to civil society and government must play a part in protecting children from harm.
“Child labor is not just about poverty; it’s also about awareness,” Bird explained. “Many parents do not realize that some of the tasks their children perform — such as carrying heavy loads, using sharp tools, or handling agrochemicals — are hazardous and can harm their development.”
ICI’s interventions have touched lives across Ghana’s cocoa-growing communities. From building schools and toilet facilities, to providing school kits, apprenticeships, and women’s savings groups, their initiatives have given families hope and children a chance to dream beyond the farm.
Still, the challenge remains daunting. A 2018/19 study by the University of Chicago’s NORC found that about 1.56 million children were involved in child labor across Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire with nearly half of them in Ghana.
Despite this, Bird remains hopeful.
“When we work together — communities, companies, government, and the media — child labor can be reduced. Every child deserves to be safe, educated, and free from harm. That’s the story we must all tell.”
