Child Labour
The difference between helpful chores and harmful work, and how child labour affects school and development.
What is child labour?
Child labour is work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical or mental development. It includes work that interferes with schooling.
Not all work done by children is child labour. Age-appropriate household chores and light tasks that do not affect health, safety or schooling can help children learn responsibility.
When work becomes harmful
Work becomes child labour when it:
- Is too heavy, dangerous or long for the child's age
- Keeps a child out of school or leaves them too tired to learn
- Exposes a child to chemicals, machinery, deep water, heights or night work
- Exposes a child to abuse or exploitation
Impact on school and development
Children in child labour are more likely to miss school, fall behind or drop out entirely. Harmful work can cause injury, exhaustion and long-term health problems, and limits a child's future opportunities.
What families and communities can do
- Prioritise school attendance and study time.
- Give children chores suited to their age and strength.
- Employers, farmers and traders should never use children for hazardous work.
Specific age and working-hour classifications under Ghanaian law will be added after editorial review.