The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has warned that child labour continues to keep thousands of children out of school in Ghana, despite constitutional protections and international commitments aimed at ending the practice.

In a statement issued on June 12, 2026, to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, the Commission emphasized that protecting children's rights is a fundamental measure of a society's commitment to human dignity and social justice.

CHRAJ noted that child labour "continues to deprive many children of their right to education, protection, development and a safe and dignified childhood."

The problem persists despite Ghana's existing legal safeguards, which include:

- The 1992 Constitution

- The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560)

- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

- The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

CHRAJ described the global and national scale of child labour as "deeply concerning." Globally, approximately 138 million children are engaged in child labour, with nearly 54 million involved in hazardous work.

In Ghana, the Commission cited Ghana Statistical Service data from 2023 showing that more than 1.1 million children aged 5–17 were engaged in economic activity.

“Alarmingly, over 458,000 of these children were not attending school,” the statement noted, adding that this reality prevents children from accessing education and opportunities that could help break the cycle of poverty.

Operating under the theme “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” the Commission called for a renewed national commitment to tackle the issue.

CHRAJ stressed that child labour is a direct violation of national and international law, and urged stronger action to address the underlying conditions that expose children to exploitation, warning that inaction risks deepening inequality and undermining long-term development.