The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Atiwa East District Assembly, marked the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour with a coordinated awareness campaign in the Atiwa East District, beginning with a local radio engagement and followed by a school outreach at Presbyterian Primary School.
The initiative, held under the theme “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” placed strong emphasis on the dangers of involving children in agriculture and illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey. The campaign commenced with an educational programme on a local radio station, where CHRAJ and NCCE officials engaged the public on the significance of the day, explaining the theme and highlighting the risks associated with child labour, particularly in farming and mining communities.
The radio discussion also educated parents and guardians on their responsibilities and encouraged community members to support efforts to ensure children remain in school, effectively setting the tone for the day’s activities by reaching a broad audience across the district. Following the radio sensitisation, the team proceeded to Presbyterian Primary School, where they engaged pupils in an interactive session focused on their rights to education, protection, and development, while also educating them on the harmful effects of child labour on their future and the importance of prioritising schooling. The pupils were further guided on how to report cases of abuse or exploitation. A key highlight of both the radio and school engagements was the discussion on the use of children in agriculture and galamsey, where officials explained that although farming is part of community life, children must not be exposed to hazardous tasks or work that interferes with their education, especially in illegal mining environments that expose them to dangerous pits, polluted water, toxic chemicals, and physically demanding conditions.
The collaboration between CHRAJ, NCCE, and the Atiwa East District Assembly demonstrated a unified approach to tackling child labour, with CHRAJ providing guidance on legal protections and reporting channels, NCCE focusing on civic awareness and responsibility, and the District Assembly reinforcing community engagement and local enforcement. The institutions collectively called on parents, teachers, and community leaders to take active responsibility in preventing child labour and ensuring that children remain in school, stressing that although poverty remains a contributing factor, the protection of children must be a shared priority. Through the combined use of mass awareness via radio and direct engagement in schools, stakeholders in Atiwa East are taking significant steps toward eliminating child labour and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.