The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a Swiss-based non-profit foundation, has launched a three-day capacity-building workshop for selected journalists across Ghana.

The workshop focuses on Child and Forced Labor activities, with an emphasis on ethical reporting, and aims to create a better future for children in cocoa-growing communities.

Mr. Prince Gyamfi, Deputy Country Director at ICI, and program coordinator explained that the training is designed to deepen journalists' understanding of the concepts of forced and child labor. It further equips them with the knowledge and skills required to produce ethical reports on these critical issues.

Mr. Kofi Yeboah, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and Chairperson of the Professional Development Committee of the GJA welcomed the initiative and stressed the importance of reporting on child labor issues in a manner that safeguards the best interests of Ghanaian children.

He also urged the participants to share the knowledge gained during the training with their colleagues who couldn't attend.

The workshop, jointly organized by ICI and the GJA, covers various topics, including permissible child work, light work, non-hazardous work, reporting on children, national and international laws, indicators of forced labor, Ghanaian legal frameworks, and international conventions and standards related to child labor.

The training also includes discussions on regional frameworks concerning forced labor laws and other related issues.

This initiative has brought together more than 38 journalists, including senior editors and reporters, in Kumasi.

The training aims to enhance their capacity to address child and forced labor issues effectively in the country.