Bibiani, Western North Region, Ghana – 18 September 2026 – When a child is identified

working in hazardous conditions, the first step towards protection is knowing where the child

is, what risks they face and what support they need. In Ghana, a new digital tool is helping

government officials and partners strengthen that process.

The new Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) is being rolled out to help

stakeholders identify, document, refer and follow up on cases of child labour more effectively.

The system is particularly important in sectors such as agriculture, artisanal and small-scale

mining, domestic work and other parts of the informal economy, where children can be

exposed to hazardous or exploitative work. The new GCLMs has been made interoperable

with other child protection systems in Ghana. This makes case referral and remediation

seamless, and ensure effective inter-agency coordination.

From 15 to 18 September, the International Labour Organization (ILO), through its ACCEL

Africa Project, in partnership with the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and

Employment, trained the first selected regional and district stakeholders in the ACCEL Africa

project areas on the new GCLMS.

The training is part of efforts to ensure that those directly involved in child labour

identification, monitoring, referral and case management at the regional and district levels

have the knowledge and practical skills to use the system effectively.

Addressing participants during the training, Bismark Quartey, National Project Coordinator of

the ILO’s ACCEL Africa Project in Ghana, emphasize the importance of effective monitoring

in the fight against child labour. “Reliable and timely data is fundamental to effective action

against child labour. The new GCLMS provides stakeholders with a common mechanism to

document cases, understand their characteristics and underlying causes, initiate appropriate

interventions and follow up on children and families receiving support,” he stated.

Developed with funding from the ILO through the ACCEL Africa Project and other

development partners, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of

Labour, Jobs and Employment, the new GCLMS provides a common framework for

collecting, managing, analysing and reporting information on child labour.

For district and regional officers, the system is expected to make it easier to maintain

accurate case records and ensure that information follows a case through identification,

referral and follow-up.

Participants used field practical exercises during the four-day training to learn how to register

and document cases, update case information, manage data, generate reports and monitor

follow-up actions. “The training has streng

Bibiani, Western North Region, Ghana – 18 September 2026 – When a child is identified

working in hazardous conditions, the first step towards protection is knowing where the child

is, what risks they face and what support they need. In Ghana, a new digital tool is helping

government officials and partners strengthen that process.

The new Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) is being rolled out to help

stakeholders identify, document, refer and follow up on cases of child labour more effectively.

The system is particularly important in sectors such as agriculture, artisanal and small-scale

mining, domestic work and other parts of the informal economy, where children can be

exposed to hazardous or exploitative work. The new GCLMs has been made interoperable

with other child protection systems in Ghana. This makes case referral and remediation

seamless, and ensure effective inter-agency coordination.

From 15 to 18 September, the International Labour Organization (ILO), through its ACCEL

Africa Project, in partnership with the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and

Employment, trained the first selected regional and district stakeholders in the ACCEL Africa

project areas on the new GCLMS.

The training is part of efforts to ensure that those directly involved in child labour

identification, monitoring, referral and case management at the regional and district levels

have the knowledge and practical skills to use the system effectively.

Addressing participants during the training, Bismark Quartey, National Project Coordinator of

the ILO’s ACCEL Africa Project in Ghana, emphasize the importance of effective monitoring

in the fight against child labour. “Reliable and timely data is fundamental to effective action

against child labour. The new GCLMS provides stakeholders with a common mechanism to

document cases, understand their characteristics and underlying causes, initiate appropriate

interventions and follow up on children and families receiving support,” he stated.

Developed with funding from the ILO through the ACCEL Africa Project and other

development partners, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of

Labour, Jobs and Employment, the new GCLMS provides a common framework for

collecting, managing, analysing and reporting information on child labour.

For district and regional officers, the system is expected to make it easier to maintain

accurate case records and ensure that information follows a case through identification,

referral and follow-up.

Participants used field practical exercises during the four-day training to learn how to register

and document cases, update case information, manage data, generate reports and monitor

follow-up actions. “The training has strengthened my understanding of how to use the

GCLMS to document cases from identification through referral and follow-up. It will help us

at the district level to improve the quality of information we collect and ensure that identified

cases receive appropriate support,” said Frederick Osei Agyemang a participant from the

Social Welfare Department in Bibiani.

The system also provides opportunities for improved information sharing through

interoperability with other child labour monitoring systems.

By strengthening data collection and coordination at decentralized levels, the GCLMS is

expected to support timelier and evidence-based decisions, while helping stakeholders track

whether interventions are reaching children and families who need them.

For Ghana, the rollout of the new GCLMS marks another step towards strengthening

national systems to prevent and eliminate child labour and ensure that every child is

protected from work that threatens their safety, development and future.   

thened my understanding of how to use the

GCLMS to document cases from identification through referral and follow-up. It will help us

at the district level to improve the quality of information we collect and ensure that identified

cases receive appropriate support,” said Frederick Osei Agyemang a participant from the

Social Welfare Department in Bibiani.

The system also provides opportunities for improved information sharing through

interoperability with other child labour monitoring systems.

By strengthening data collection and coordination at decentralized levels, the GCLMS is

expected to support timelier and evidence-based decisions, while helping stakeholders track

whether interventions are reaching children and families who need them.

For Ghana, the rollout of the new GCLMS marks another step towards strengthening

national systems to prevent and eliminate child labour and ensure that every child is

protected from work that threatens their safety, development and future.