Let's protect Ghana's future

Ghana, a country with a GDP of over $70 billion, continues to battle the scourge of child labor. Despite efforts to eradicate this menace, thousands of children remain trapped in situations of labor exploitation, depriving them of their childhood, their education and their future prospects.

Key stats:

1. More than 1.3 million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labor (Ghana Child Labor Survey, 2017)
2. 71% of working children work in hazardous conditions
3. 43% work in agriculture, 26% in services, 21% in industry, 10% in mines and quarries and 5% in fishing
4. An alarming number of minor children are registered to vote and transported by bus to polling stations, some even participating in political decision-making.
5. 15% of registered voters in the 2020 elections were under 18 years old
6. Reports of children as young as 12 being bused to voting centers

Root causes:

1. Poverty
2. Lack of education
3. Limited employment opportunities for adults
4. Corruption, cronyism and lack of political will

Consequences:

1. Perpetuation of cycles of poverty, illiteracy and social inequalities
2. Deprivation of childhood, education and future prospects
3. Physical and emotional damage
4. Increased vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking
5. Indoctrination of children into political manipulation and corruption

Solutions:

1. Improve access to quality education
2. Create employment opportunities for adults
3. Strengthen social protection programs
4. Collaborate with local organizations
5. Provide education and professional training
6. Offer mentoring and advice
7. Connect to healthcare, legal assistance and social services
8. Advocate for policies that protect children’s rights

Call to action:

Let's work together to build a future where Ghana's children can thrive, free from exploitation and full of promise. We demand accountability from our leaders and urge them to take decisive action against child labor.

Personal call:

As a member of the Assembly and advocate for child protection and women's empowerment, I urge the Ministry of Children and Women to take immediate action to combat child sex trafficking in Accra. We must work together to create a safe and protective environment for our children.

I demand that the ministry take immediate action to:

1. Increase support services for victims of child sex trafficking
2. Launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the problem
3. Collaborate with local organizations to provide housing and rehabilitation services
4. Strengthen law enforcement to prosecute perpetrators
5. Develop policies to address the root causes of child sex trafficking

Furthermore, I call on our leaders to prioritize the judicious use of funds to secure the future of our children. It is unacceptable that millions of dollars are deposited into politicians' accounts, only to be used for political campaigns and personal gains, while our children suffer in poverty and exploitation. We must invest in the education, health care and protection of our children, rather than wasting our resources on political schemes and corruption.

But who will hear our cry and help us? Are there any funds available to help us fight this canker? As an advocate with integrity at the state level, I am committed to doing the right thing by investing resources in appropriate areas, without any political favoritism. All I need is help to start helping these kids. They need help, and they need it now.

I call on international organizations, NGOs and individuals of good will to come to our aid. Let's work together to secure funding and resources to combat child labor and sex trafficking in Ghana. Let's ensure our children have access to quality education, health care and protection from exploitation.

Together we can make a difference and create a better future for Ghana's children. Who will join me in this fight? Who will help us hear the cry of our children and act? The time for change has arrived.