Close to 900,000 children aged 5 -17 years engaged in paid employment – GSS

The Ghana Statistical Service has reported that approximately 900,000 children aged 5-17 are engaged in paid employment, with 56% being male.

Nearly half a million of these children do not attend school, and 72% reside in rural areas.

The Ashanti region has the highest percentage of working children at 13.6%. Most children work in family help, farm work, or as unpaid trainees.

Elementary occupations dominated, with 60.4% of working children engaged in such work.

This highlighted a significant concern for child labor and education in Ghana, particularly in rural areas.