Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Child Labour in Ghana

Teye’s ordeal began after his father passed away, leaving his family in dire financial straits. With his mother unable to work due to blindness, she saw no other option but to sell Teye to a fishing chief when he was just 14 years old.

“I know nothing about the deal my mother made or how much I was sold for. All I knew was that I had to leave my home and my siblings behind,” Teye recounts.

Like many other children, Teye’s new life was one of relentless labour, physical abuse, and fear. He worked in harsh conditions, trawling nets on Lake Volta—the world’s largest man-made lake—where over 50,000 children aged 5 to 17 are estimated to be engaged in forced labour. His inexperience earned him frequent beatings, and his nights were spent in constant dread of the lake’s dangers—crocodiles, snakes, and the wrath of his overseers.

“I was afraid. I didn’t know how to paddle a canoe, and mistakes meant punishment,” he recalls. “Sometimes I would jump into the water to escape the beatings, only for my boss to leave me swimming home as punishment.”

This brutal reality is one faced by many children in Ghana’s fishing communities. The exploitation of child labour is driven by deep-seated poverty, lack of education, and limited economic opportunities for families.

A Systematic Exploitation of Vulnerable Children

According to Klaus Quansah, a social worker at SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana, the fishing industry actively seeks out children as young as five or six. Younger children are easier to control and less likely to escape, making them ideal targets for fishing chiefs.

“These children live in sheds by the river, never knowing when they’ll be called out to fish,” says Quansah. “They are fed only when their bosses are satisfied with the day’s catch. Girls are often tasked with smoking and selling the fish, a laborious job that also exposes them to sexual exploitation.”

Parents, trapped by poverty, often see no other way to provide for their families. Fishing chiefs exploit this desperation, offering false promises of care and small sums of money, food, or clothing in exchange for a child’s labour. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 160 million children worldwide are involved in child labour, with Africa bearing the highest burden.

Breaking the Cycle through Collaboration and Prevention

Recognizing the urgency of the crisis, SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana is taking a proactive approach to prevent child labour by addressing its root causes. National Director Alexander Mar Kekula emphasizes that poverty is a major driver of child exploitation.

“We must support families to meet their basic needs and create sustainable job opportunities,” says Kekula. “Strengthening vulnerable families is the only way to break the cycle of poverty and prevent child labour.”

SOS Children’s Villages partners with organizations like “Challenging Heights” to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked children. Together, they have freed 149 children in just one year and supported over 100 parents with economic opportunities. Rescued children undergo rehabilitation before being reintegrated with their families. Importantly, families receive ongoing support to ensure children are not re-trafficked.

“We work closely with parents to develop realistic income-generating plans,” says Quansah. “Whether it’s selling farm produce or starting a small fish-smoking business, we provide start-up capital and financial training to help families become self-sufficient.”

A Path to Hope and Justice

Teye’s story illustrates both the trauma of child labour and the hope that intervention can bring. After being rescued for a second time, he struggled to catch up with his education. With the support of SOS Children’s Villages, Teye is now a mechanic apprentice, grateful for a chance to rebuild his life.

“I am happy for this opportunity. If I hadn’t been rescued, I might not be alive today,” he says.

Yet, the fight is far from over. Quansah insists that legal action against perpetrators must be pursued to create lasting change.

“We cannot allow fishing chiefs to continue exploiting children with impunity,” he asserts. “We must advocate for stronger laws and public awareness to end child labour for good.”

Kekula echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of valuing children and safeguarding their rights.

“Children are the future of this country. Protecting them and ensuring they receive education and care is not just a moral duty—it is a necessity for our nation’s progress.”

By tackling the root causes of child labour, providing economic support to families, and holding exploiters accountable, Ghana can break the vicious cycle and give every child a chance to thrive.