Is Ghana’s Policy for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor a Success?

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Policy Studies
Title Is Ghana’s Policy for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor a Success?
Author(s)
Volume 5
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
URL http://www.papersearch.net/view/detail.asp?detail_key=30604126
Abstract
This paper assessed the outcomes of the ILO Convention on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor (COEWFL) in Ghana. Using interviews and secondary information, the evaluation was done along program, process and politics dimensions. The evidence showed that COEWFL achieved far less than its program goals. Failures occurred in all the stages of the COEWFL process particularly implementation had role conflicts and resource constraints. Politically, there was neither difficulty in adopting COEWFL nor legitimacy concerns with its outcomes. The paper concludes that lessons should be gleaned from the specific type as well as the overall program, process and political failures of COEWFL. As in this case, an exclusive focus on technical learning to the neglect of potential process and political failures, has engendered, rather than reduced, the prospect of policy failure. Moreover, the challenges of COEWFL suggest that emphasis on legislative bans of the worst forms of child labor to the neglect of other interventions is ineffective. It should be recognized that child labor of all forms is often a symptom of other problems-poverty, inadequate education systems, discrimination within families, inadequately protected human rights, weak democratic institutions- that will not be eliminated by banning the worst forms of child labor.

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