Children’s Harmful Work in Ghana’s Lake Volta Fisheries: Research Needed to Move Beyond Discourses of Child Trafficking

This paper reviews the current state of research and on issues related to children’s involvement in fishing work on Lake Volta. It starts with a general introduction to fishing on the Lake. Children’s work in these fisheries is then characterised in relation to forms of work and the conditions children experience, and the hazards to which they are exposed.

The paper also addresses what little is known about the prevalence of children’s work, as well as potential trends, and the historical and contemporary drivers. Prevalent discourses and relevant policies are also reviewed. The paper concluded by outlining research questions focusing on prevalence, discourses and harm, and proposes qualitative and quantitative work needed to address them.