The Ghanaian government has introduced a new digital monitoring system to enhance its fight against child labour in various sectors, including agriculture, artisanal mining, and the informal economy. The Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) aims to facilitate the identification, documentation, referral, and follow-up of child labour cases. Developed with funding from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) through the ACCEL Africa Project, the system is designed to provide a common framework for collecting, managing, and reporting information on child labour.
The GCLMS is particularly crucial in sectors where children are exposed to hazardous or exploitative work. The system is interoperable with other child protection systems in Ghana, enabling seamless case referral and remediation, as well as effective inter-agency coordination. The ILO, in partnership with the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, has trained regional and district stakeholders on the new system. This training is part of efforts to equip those directly involved in child labour identification, monitoring, and case management with the necessary knowledge and practical skills.
The training, which took place in ACCEL Africa project areas, covered the effective use of the GCLMS, including registering and documenting cases, updating case information, managing data, generating reports, and monitoring follow-up actions. Participants engaged in field practical exercises to gain hands-on experience with the system. Bismark Quartey, National Project Coordinator of the ILO's ACCEL Africa Project in Ghana, emphasized the importance of reliable and timely data in effective action against child labour.
According to Quartey, the GCLMS provides stakeholders with a common mechanism to document cases, understand their characteristics and underlying causes, initiate appropriate interventions, and follow up on children and families receiving support. The system also offers opportunities for improved information sharing through interoperability with other child labour monitoring systems. By strengthening data collection and coordination at decentralized levels, the GCLMS is expected to support timelier and evidence-based decisions.
The rollout of the GCLMS marks another step towards strengthening national systems to prevent and eliminate child labour in Ghana. The system is expected to help stakeholders track whether interventions are reaching children and families who need them. Frederick Osei Agyemang, a participant from the Social Welfare Department in Bibiani, noted that the training has strengthened his understanding of how to use the GCLMS to document cases from identification through referral and follow-up.
Agyemang added that the system will help improve the quality of information collected and ensure that identified cases receive appropriate support. The GCLMS is a significant development in Ghana's efforts to protect children from work that threatens their safety, development, and future. The system will facilitate more effective coordination and response to child labour cases, ultimately contributing to a reduction in child labour in the country.
The introduction of the GCLMS is a collaborative effort between the Ghanaian government and international partners to combat child labour. The system is expected to enhance the country's ability to monitor and address child labour, ultimately ensuring that every child is protected from exploitative and hazardous work. Key stakeholders are optimistic that the GCLMS will make a significant impact in the fight against child labour in Ghana.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has launched a new digital monitoring system to combat child labour in various sectors.
- The system, developed with ILO funding, aims to facilitate the identification, documentation, referral, and follow-up of child labour cases.
- The GCLMS is interoperable with other child protection systems in Ghana, enabling seamless case referral and remediation.
