12.7 million children

28.2 million people live in Ghana. 12.7 million are children, and over 4 million of the children are under five years old.

Name and nationality

From the day you are born you have the right to a name and to be registered as a citizen in your country. 870,000 children are born every year in Ghana. 3 out of 10 are never registered. There is no documented proof that they exist! Birth registration is free in Ghana for the first twelve months.

Survive and grow

You have the right to life. Ghana must do all it can to allow children to survive and develop. 1 out of 16 children in Ghana (51,000 every year) die before the age of 5, usually due to causes that could have been prevented.

Health and well-being

You have the right to food, clean water, medical care and the right to privacy when consulting an adult about any health problem. Almost 8 of 10 children in Ghana use basic drinking water services. 14 of 100 children use basic sanitation services. Many new born children are at risk because they do not get enough iodine. 6 out of 10 who die of malaria in Ghana are children. Almost 5 out of 10 children under five sleep under impregnated mosquito nets, which makes them safer. 32,000 children (aged 0-14) are believed to live with HIV/AIDS.

A home, clothing, food and security

You have the right to a home, food, clothing, education, health care and security. 1 out of 4 children in Ghana live in extreme poverty with less than 1.90 US-dollar (11 Cedi) a day to live on.

Education

You have the right to go to school. Primary and secondary schools should be free for everyone. Almost 9 out of 10 children in Ghana go to school, but many of them leave school too early.

Protection against violence

You have the right to protection against all forms of violence, including neglect, maltreatment and abuse. Only 60 countries have forbidden all forms of corporal punishment for children. Ghana has not. Many schools still allow caning. 9 out of 10 children are punished physically or psychologically.

Hazardous child labour

You have the right to be protected against both economic exploitation and work that is hazardous to your health or which prevents you from going to school. All work is prohibited for children under 12. Some children are forced into the worst forms of child labour, such as being debt slaves, child soldiers or commercial sexual exploitation. Children in Ghana are not to be engaged in any form of work from 8 pm to 6 am, but an estimated 1.4 million children (more than 2 out of 10 children aged 5-14) have to work.

Your voice must be heard

You have the right to say what you think about any issue that affects you. The adults should listen to the child’s opinion before they make decisions, which must always be made in the best interest of the child!