The Wa East District has taken a bold step towards strengthening child protection and promoting children’s participation in governance with the inauguration of the maiden Wa East Children’s Parliament as part of activities marking the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour.
The initiative, spearheaded by World Vision Ghana in collaboration with the Wa East District Assembly and the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, seeks to provide children with a platform to express their concerns, influence decisions affecting their lives, and advocate for their rights.
The day’s event held under the theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” brings together traditional leaders, government officials, teachers, parents, development partners, and schoolchildren.
Speaking on behalf of the World Vision Ghana Cluster Manager, Sergious Before, Project Officer Anthony Armoh-Adu described the Children’s Parliament as a major milestone in efforts to ensure children are heard and involved in matters concerning their wellbeing.
“The inauguration of the Children’s Parliament marks a new chapter for children in Wa East. It will provide them with the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their lives and contribute to solutions that improve their well-being,” he said.
Mr Before expressed concern about the growing involvement of children in illegal mining activities, warning that child labour continues to rob many children of their education and future opportunities.
“Every child who leaves school for mining is a child whose dreams and potential are being compromised,” he noted, calling for collective action to keep children in school and away from hazardous work.
He highlighted the progress made under the Wa East Area Programme, now in its third year, including the revitalisation of child protection committees, training of community volunteers, and awareness campaigns through local radio stations. He said the programme would continue to innovate and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure children thrive.
District Chief Executive for Wa East, Adamu Sayibu, who served as Guest of Honour, described child labour as one of the greatest threats to the future of children, particularly in rural communities where poverty, inadequate social protection, and limited educational opportunities continue to expose children to exploitation.
“Every child deserves a safe environment, quality education, and the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential,” he said.
He noted that many families rely on children to support household livelihoods through farming, herding, and trading but stressed that economic challenges should never deny children their right to education and protection.
The DCE officially inaugurated the Children’s Parliament and urged its members to use the platform responsibly.
“I encourage you to become ambassadors for education, child protection, and positive change in your communities. The future leaders of Wa East and Ghana are among you,” he told the children.
Mr Sayibu also highlighted several interventions by World Vision Ghana that are improving the welfare of children and families in the district. These include the distribution of more than 3,000 Vitamin A tablets to health facilities, climate-smart agriculture training for over 857 farmers, capacity-building support for 35 Savings for Transformation groups, literacy training for 45 teachers, and the development of two solar-powered boreholes.
On his part, the Wa East District Social Welfare and Community Development Officer, Clement Mol, said child labour continues to deprive children of education and expose them to abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
He stressed that eliminating child labour requires the collective efforts of parents, teachers, community leaders, faith-based organisations, government agencies, and development partners.
“The responsibility of protecting children does not rest with one institution alone. We must work together to identify children at risk, support vulnerable households, and ensure every child remains in school and is protected from harmful practices,” he stated.
Mr Mol also underscored the importance of creating decent employment opportunities for adults, noting that poverty and limited livelihood options often force families to depend on the labour of their children.
As part of the commemoration, participants symbolically displayed red cards to demonstrate their commitment to ending child labour and creating a district where every child is protected, educated, and empowered to realise their full potential.
By Ibrahim Abubakari Wangara
