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The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has declared war on child labour in the fishing industry, announcing plans to criminalise the practice of engaging children in commercial fishing during school hours.
The Ga king revealed that new traditional by-laws are being drafted to hold parents and guardians legally accountable for allowing their children to engage in fishing at the expense of their education.
Speaking at the 2026 Kinka Blonya festival, the Ga Mantse emphasized that the era of choosing the high seas over the classroom is coming to an end. “All the traditional authorities in the Ga State have come together to actively promote education. A time is nearing when fishing by children at the expense of education will be criminalised,” he stated.
To support vulnerable families, the Office of the Ga Mantse is providing over 1,000 scholarships to encourage education.
The King stressed that prioritising education is non-negotiable and urged parents to enrol their children in schools.
The traditional council will collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and local authorities to enforce the new regulations, including beach patrols and parental accountability measures.
This initiative aims to create a new generation of professionals from the Ga community, shifting the mindset towards valuing education over short-term gains.
The move is part of broader efforts to address child labour and trafficking in Ghana’s fishing sector, with stakeholders calling for collective action to protect children’s rights.
