Parental attitude and child labour: evidence from central region of Ghana

Abstract

The study focused on parental attitude and its impact on child labour participation in the Central Region of Ghana. The paper empirically examined the incidence of child labour of children between 5-17 years through a cross-sectional survey. A sample size of 788 children and parents was selected for the study. A multi-stage sampling with systematic random and purposive sampling techniques were employed. The questionnaire guide was the instrument for data collection. The study analysis was done using the probit regression model. The findings of the study showed that both father and mother attitudes significantly increase the probability of child labour participation. Mothers’ employment status and fathers’ education significantly reduce child labour participation. Children from the 3rd, 4th and 5th quintiles have less probability of child labour participation. Others include educational cost, age of the child, and
geographical locality of the children significantly affect child labour participation. The study recommends that the District Assemblies must strictly enforce the Children’s Act and make it operational for the restrictions regarding the employment of children. It is also recommended that the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service through the Inspectorate Board should design a truancy policy that would be enforced on parents to reduce child labour participation in economic activities and promote the free compulsory universal basic education policy.