NCCE Educates Public on Child Labor Through Radio Program in Nabam District

The Nabdam District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified public education on child labor and its consequences through a radio sensitization program aimed at the general public.

The program was held on 12th June 2026 at 9:30 a.m. on URA Radio (89.7 MHz) in the Bolgatanga Municipality as part of activities marking World Day Against Child Labor. The initiative was undertaken in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Information Services Department (ISD), and Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF).

Speaking during the program, the Nabam District Director of the NCCE, Mr. Elbazar Joachim, underscored the importance of protecting children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. He explained that under Ghanaian law, a child is any person below the age of 18 years and must be safeguarded to ensure proper growth and development.

Mr. Joachim highlighted that child labor laws in Ghana are primarily governed by the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560), and the Labor Act, which place the best interests of the child at the center of all decisions and provide protection against exploitative and hazardous work. He further cited Article 16 of the 1992 Constitution, which states that no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and that no person shall be required to perform forced labor.

The Nabam District Director of CHRAJ, Ms. Patricia Ayichuru, appealed to community members to report cases of child labor to appropriate authorities and opinion leaders for prompt action. She stressed the need for collective efforts to eliminate child labor and ensure that the district records zero cases.

Participants also discussed the growing concern of children becoming involved in illegal mining activities (galamsey), noting that such practices expose children to hazardous conditions and deny them access to education. The panelists reiterated that involving school-age children in galamsey constitutes child labor and is prohibited under the Children's Act.

Other panelists, including Mr. Alebezeri A. Awuni of the Information Services Department, Ms. Abubakari Lardi of WiLDAF, and Mr. Gabriel Azagza of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, provided extensive education on the subject and highlighted the collective responsibility of communities in protecting children.

The program, moderated by Mrs. Veronica Barik of URA Radio, was conducted entirely in the Nabb's language to ensure effective communication and understanding among listeners. The session was highly interactive, with listeners actively participating through phone-in contributions and discussions.

The panelists expressed appreciation to the NCCE and the Nabam District Assembly for facilitating the program and providing financial support for airtime. They noted that such educational initiatives are crucial in raising awareness and promoting community action against child labor.

The radio engagement formed part of efforts to commemorate World Day Against Child Labor and reinforced the commitment of the NCCE and its partners to eliminating child labor in the Nabam District. The program was described as timely, impactful, and successful.