Minister Designate calls for criminalisation of child labour

Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, the Minister-Designate for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, has called for child labour to be classified as a criminal offence in Ghana.

Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Dr. Pelpuo highlighted how certain work practices, such as parents involving their children in labour-related tasks, have normalized child labour in the country.

He cited an example of plumbers using their children to carry tools during holidays, noting that such habits have extended into broader work culture.

He stressed that criminalising child labour would serve as a deterrent and reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising its eradication.

Dr. Pelpuo also pledged to review and, if necessary, strengthen the Ghana Accelerated Action Plan Against Child Labour (2023-2027) to ensure its effective implementation.