ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE CHILDREN IN GHANA: THEIR ACTIVITIES AND WELFARE DIMENSIONS

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the determinants of economically active children between the ages of 5-14-years in Ghana using data from the 2012/2013 Ghana Living Standards Survey. Moreover, the effect of early work experiences on the welfare of an individual who worked as a child is explored in terms of the income and the highest educational attainment of the individual at adulthood.

Using a probit model the paper finds out that variables such as mother’s presence in the household, child’s educational status, father’s education, household’s ownership of land, urban-rural residence, religion and regional dummies significantly influence the occurrence of child work. However, variables such as the gender of the child, father’s presence in the household and the education of the mother were insignificant in determining child work. Also, individuals with early work experiences are less likely to attain higher educational levels of secondary education or above.

Using a robust OLS model, early work experiences reduce an individual’s income at adulthood. Since child work reduces the income and higher educational attainment of an individual at adulthood, it is recommended that child work is discouraged and child schooling and skills development are encouraged especially in the rural households where child work is prevalent. The Ghanaian data confirm the negative role of early work experiences on the welfare of individuals at adulthood in terms of the income and higher educational attainment.