In late 2000 and early 2001, the international media reported that children were being trafficked and employed in large numbers in hazardous work, including the cocoa sector, under slavery-like conditions in West Africa. The media reports led to discussions between the representatives of the international cocoa industry and a number of trade unions, consumer and non-governmental organizations and
advocated for actions to be taken to eliminate worst forms of child labour in the sector to prevent boycott of cocoa products and its derivatives. This strategy was codified in a Protocol called 'Harkin-Engel Protocol' to eliminate the worst forms of child labour from the cocoa and chocolate sector. The protocol was signed in September 2001 by representatives of the major stakeholders in the cocoa sector such as chocolate manufacturing companies, consumer groups and representatives of cocoa producing countries. The Harkin-Engel protocol has 4 main components namely: data collection, reporting, remediation and independent verification. It is undeniable that cocoa is one of the backbones of the Ghanaian economy contributing about 37% of GDP in2003. It creates direct employment to a lot of people in the rural communities and contributes indirectly to the sustenance of livelihoods of all Ghanaians. Therefore, efforts ought to be taken to sustain the sector and also ensure that children in cocoa growing communities have access to formal education and other basic necessities while preventing children's engagement in hazardous activities. To achieve this, the government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment (MMYE) established the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC) to coordinate activities that will help Ghana produce a positive certification report in all the 4 components in the Harkin-Engel Protocol framework.
