Child Labour/Slavery
Many children are forced to work to help support poverty impoverished families
Child Labour, Ghana
Child Slavery, Ghana
Child Slavery, Ghana
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Child labour is a serious problem in Ghana, where about one-third of children between the ages of seven and 14 years work full-time. The term “Child Labour” applies to all children under 12 years who work to make money, those aged 12 to 14 years who do dangerous work, and all children engaged in the worst forms of child labour such as slavery, prostitution, trafficking and other illegal activities. It also includes hazardous work such as going to sea, mining and children working in places of entertainment such as bars and hotels where they may be exposed to immoral behaviour.
“Child Labour” is also defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their schooling by:
Depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; Obliging them to leave school prematurely; or Requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. There is an estimated 2.7 million child labourers in Ghana currently, which maybe one of the reasons and most overlooked causes for the decline of Ghana's economy. Children involved in exploitative labour or hazardous work often suffer from long-term health problems, such as respiratory disease, asbestosis and a variety of cancers, due to their work with dangerous chemicals. Also physical injuries and mutilations occur, caused by badly maintained machinery on farms and in factories, machete accidents on plantations, and any number of hazards encountered in industries such as mining and ceramics.
“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its
best hope for the future."
—JFK
Facts
5% of street children were already born on the streets of Ghana
Street Children, Ghana
Street Children, Ghana
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UNICEF estimate that there are 30 million street children in Africa and UN sources state an estimated 150 million world wide. There are more than 90,000 Street Children in ACCRA. Roughly half of them are girls. Approximately 75% of the street children originate from outside of ACCRA. They left their families in search of money and work. 5% of the street children were already born on the streets. 40% dropped out of school. 60% have never entered one or visted one. Street Boys work mainly as CARRIERS, waste pickers, shoe shine boys, or car washers. Street Girls often sell water, food and in some cases their bodies.
“Hope is at it's strongest when the future is before you”.
—Steve Peach
Child Labour/Slavery
Facts
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