The Ga State is preparing to introduce strict traditional legislation aimed at eliminating child labour in the fishing industry, as the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, outlines a firm new direction that places education above economic survival practices.
The King announced that fresh by-laws are being drafted to criminalise the engagement of school-aged children in commercial fishing during school hours. Under the proposed rules, parents and guardians—not the children—will bear full legal responsibility, facing arrest and prosecution if found violating the law.
The declaration was made during the 2026 Kinka Blonya celebrations, the annual New Year children’s festival, held on Thursday, January 1, 2026. The event drew children, parents, traditional authorities, and community leaders from across the Ga State.
Addressing the gathering, the Ga Mantse delivered a clear message: the long-standing practice of prioritising fishing over formal education will no longer be tolerated. He stated that traditional authorities across the Ga State have reached a unified position to actively enforce education as a non-negotiable right for every child.
“A time is approaching when fishing by children at the expense of education will be criminalised,” the King declared, stressing that the era of choosing the sea over the classroom is ending.
To address concerns that poverty might hinder compliance, the Ga Mantse revealed that the Office of the Ga Mantse is rolling out a large-scale scholarship programme targeted at vulnerable families in coastal communities. According to him, more than 1,000 scholarships are being provided to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent children from attending school.
With these support systems in place, the King said authorities will no longer tolerate the presence of school-aged children at landing beaches during school hours. “We are at a point where prioritising education in the Ga State is non-negotiable,” he said, adding that parents now have no justification for keeping children out of school.
Beyond enforcement, the initiative is framed as a long-term investment in the socio-economic future of the Ga State. The traditional leadership envisions the scholarship programme as a pipeline for producing professionals—doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs—who will drive development within the community.
The Ga Mantse emphasised that safeguarding the future of the state requires a shift in mindset, where the long-term value of education outweighs the immediate gains of daily fishing income.
To ensure effective implementation, the Ga Traditional Council is expected to work closely with the Ghana Police Service and local government authorities. Key elements of the enforcement strategy include:
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Beach Patrols: Monitoring landing beaches to identify children absent from school
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Parental Accountability: Legal summons and prosecution of guardians who violate the by-laws
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Scholarship Monitoring: Verifying school attendance and academic performance of scholarship beneficiaries
