The Netherlands, a significant actor in the global cocoa value chain, is championing a vision where cocoa farming guarantees a living income for farming families while eradicating deforestation and child labor. This initiative underscores a commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices within the industry.
Context: The Scale of the Cocoa Challenge
The cocoa sector faces immense challenges, particularly concerning child labor. Research by the National Opinion Research Centre (NORC) at the University of Chicago reveals that approximately 1.56 million children are currently involved in child labor within cocoa production in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
A staggering 95% of these children are exposed to hazardous working conditions. This includes tasks such as using sharp tools like machetes, carrying heavy loads of cocoa pods, and handling toxic agrochemicals, posing significant risks to their health and safety.
Further complicating the issue, research from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) highlights a strong link between forced labor, human trafficking, and hazardous child labor. Vulnerable children from impoverished regions are often trafficked to cocoa-growing areas with deceptive promises of education or employment.
Netherlands’ Commitment to Action
In response to these critical issues, the Netherlands is making substantial investments to protect children and foster their potential. The Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa Project), a collaboration with the International Labour Organization, is a key component of this effort.
Peter Dadzie, Policy Officer for Cocoa and Business Development at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, emphasized the importance of safeguarding children. “Children are the future and therefore must be given adequate care and protection without being exposed to hazardous work,” he stated.
During a training workshop on Friday, June 5, 2026, in Goaso, investigators and prosecutors of the police service received training on combating exploitative networks, including human trafficking. The event also marked the commissioning of a child-friendly anti-human trafficking unit in the Ahafo region.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Jeroen Verheul, is deeply committed to ensuring the dignity and well-being of children in Ghana’s cocoa-producing communities. This commitment is being translated into tangible support for interventions aimed at strengthening law enforcement and social welfare officers in key regions like Ahafo, Western North, and Ashanti.
Building a Child-Friendly Future
The recent establishment of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and a permanent safe haven for vulnerable children in the Ahafo region signifies a firm stance against child labor and trafficking. This initiative sends a clear message of zero tolerance for such exploitation in the area.
Trained officers staffing the new unit are urged to demonstrate dedication and steadfastness to achieve the collective objective of ending all forms of child trafficking and exploitation. This collaborative effort underscores the growing recognition of “shared responsibility” between cocoa-consuming and producing nations.
Shared Responsibility and Foreign Investment
As major consumer markets, particularly the European Union, implement stricter due diligence laws like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the role of foreign partners is evolving. Assistance has shifted from mere oversight to active, on-the-ground co-investment.
By funding crucial infrastructure for enforcement, enhancing the capacity of police services, and establishing social safety nets, partners like the Dutch government are bridging the gap between policy and effective implementation. This ensures that legal frameworks translate into real-world protections for vulnerable rural families.
The Netherlands expresses gratitude to all stakeholders involved, including the International Justice Mission and the Police Service in the Ahafo region, for their partnership and resilience. The commitment remains strong: “The Netherlands is committed to working with you to ensure every child is safe to learn and grow, unleash their full potential, and secure a decent livelihood.”
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