Journalists Brainstorm Issues of Child Labour on Cocoa Farms

In a quiet conference room nestled within Royal Lee’s Hotel, the voices of Ghana’s newsroom leaders echoed with renewed purpose. They had gathered not just to share editorial strategies, but to confront a haunting reality: the persistent shadow of child labour and forced labour in the cocoa fields that fuel Ghana’s global reputation.

The two-day workshop, held on October 2–3, was spearheaded by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a leading organisation committed to protecting children in cocoa-growing communities across West Africa. The event, dubbed ‘News Editors’ Experience Sharing’, was more than a professional gathering—it was a call to conscience.

For many participants, the discussions stirred memories of children seen hauling heavy loads, missing school, or trapped in cycles of poverty. “We must remember that behind every cocoa bean is a child who deserves to dream,” said Mr. Kingsley E. Hope, the immediate past Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA). His presentation on ‘Media Landscape and Child Labour Reporting in Ghana’ urged editors to elevate advocacy reporting from the margins to the mainstream.

The workshop followed an earlier session in Kumasi for frontline journalists, where stories of field reporting were shared—some harrowing, others hopeful. Journalists recounted moments when their investigations led to rescued children, sensitised communities, or policy shifts. But they also spoke of challenges: editorial constraints, limited airtime, and the struggle to pitch stories that don’t always promise clicks but carry moral weight.

Madam Ernestina Oppong, Deputy News Editor at Kessben Media, offered practical guidance on ‘How to Pitch a Story on Child Labour’, emphasising the need to humanise statistics and spotlight the resilience of affected families. “It’s not just about exposing the problem,” she said. “It’s about telling the story of a child who got back to school, a mother who found support, or a community that changed.”

ICI’s Training and Safeguarding Manager, Nancy Aguteba, led sessions on child labour concepts and safeguarding, reminding editors that ethical reporting must protect the dignity of children while amplifying their plight. The Communications Director, Katie Bird, underscored that child labour is not just Ghana’s burden—it’s a global concern. “We must sustain the momentum,” she urged, “and ensure that these children are not forgotten once the headlines fade.”

ICI’s interventions go beyond workshops. They include educational support, apprenticeships for teenagers, household income initiatives, and cash transfers to vulnerable families, each designed to break the cycle of exploitation and restore childhoods.

From Kingsley E. Hope,
Mampong-Akuapem

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