To commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour celebration in 2022, the Department of Social Welfare organized a float/match with 50 selected students from the La Wireless circuit municipality. The objectives of the event were to educate students and the public on the negative effects of children in labor, create awareness on the existence of child labor issues in the municipality, and advocate for child labor issues in the municipality.

During the event, officers from the Department of Social Welfare, including both NABCO and National Service Personnel, marched with the students on the theme “Take Stock, Honour Our Pledge and Stop Child Labour in Ghana.” The route of the float included several stops such as wireless school, Ananse Krom, Palm wine, Kojo sardine, Spare parts, La market, La fuel station, La Bethel, La Tenu, and La Wireless school.

Placards were shared among the students with inscriptions of child labor, and they spoke through sound systems to create awareness and educate the public. The students were sensitized on the causes and negative effects of child labor at the end point of the match.

Additionally, the department visited the 37 station, Accra mall, La Market Complex, and other areas to educate the public on child labor and its prevention. The officers used placards as a medium of communication to the public, and most of the children begging on the streets were girls. The department also had discussions with parents who were allowing their children to beg on the streets and warned them of the consequences.

During the event, the department identified a woman with two children who was a refugee from Nigeria. She was warned to go back, or she would face the penalty. Additionally, the department spotted five people from Upper East folks who were begging with two older visually impaired women and three other children. The officers communicated with them and warned them not to come back but rather go back to their region and enroll the children in school.

The market women suggested that individual homes should be visited to educate them about the topic, pregnant children should be educated on birth control, and community nurses should be assigned to educate women on the negative effects of child labor. The government should enforce a law or policy on the number of children a child below the ages of eighteen (18) years should have until they are old enough and independent.

In conclusion, the Department of Social Welfare was able to reach its intended target audience during the exercise. To prevent child labor, children found on the street begging or selling during school hours should be arrested and set to shelters or homes for their parents or guardians to bail them and sign an undertaking. Bye-laws should also be implemented by the municipality Assembly to punish parents who engage their children in child labor activities.