Different approaches have been implemented over the years to minimise Child Labour issues but the issues kept recurring. This study sought to explore how New Public Management (NPM) approach could be used to manage child labour issues in Dambai.
The study found that child labour was very prevalent in the study area; and parents ignorant about the laws governing children activities. Some respondents believed that adopting the principles of the New Public Management (NPM) approach to dealing with child labour would be more effective than the current bureaucratic system of management. Integration of elements of NPM will be applicable in the fight Child Labour. NPM should be incorporated in current and future reforms programs. Certain conditions and institutions such as an informed citizenry and popular participation in policy makingshould be strengthened before implementing NPM reforms. It is recommended that institutions responsible for managing Child Labour issues adopt the NPM approach to dealing with the menace. It is also recommended that culture be considered seriously when policies and programmes to deal with Child Labour are developed and implemented.
Table of Contents
1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
2.0 METHOD AND TECHNIQUE
3.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
3.2 State of child labour in dambai
3.3 Applicability of NPM
4.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Summary of Principal Findings
4.2 Recommendations
4.3 Policy recommendations
4.4 Managerial recommendations
4.5 Future research recommendations.
4.6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research investigates the effectiveness of current child labour management in Dambai, Ghana, and explores whether adopting New Public Management (NPM) principles could offer a more efficient, flexible, and outcome-oriented solution compared to existing bureaucratic systems.
- Analysis of the current state and drivers of child labour in Dambai.
- Investigation into parental resistance towards child labour elimination efforts.
- Evaluation of the applicability of NPM in local government administration.
- Assessment of potential gains for stakeholders through decentralized, market-oriented management.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
Respondents for the study were cross sectional with majority of them being children from 5 to 18 years of age. This constitutes the age group that engaged in child labour within the study area. Most of the children interviewed came from large family background. A fourteen year old boy who works in a canoe intimates:
My mother born nine (9) children. I am the eldest so I have to work to support my siblings. My mother is a food vendor and any father is a security man in Accra. About a year ago, things became hard for my family. Feeding became a problem so I decided to work in other to support.
This reveals how the interplay of poverty and family size influence decisions to engage in child Labour. The wellbeing and status of the family is a crucial determinant of the involvement in child labour. It also discloses gives a different perspective that child labour sometimes voluntary contrary to the prevalent perception that child labourers are under duress.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY: This chapter contextualizes child labour as a global issue, highlighting the legal and social frameworks in Ghana, and identifies the need for new management approaches due to the failure of traditional bureaucracy.
2.0 METHOD AND TECHNIQUE: This section details the exploratory research design, qualitative data collection methods, and the sample selection of 23 participants from Dambai, emphasizing the focus on in-depth understanding rather than generalization.
3.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS: This chapter analyzes the socio-demographic drivers of child labour, such as poverty and cultural socialisation, and evaluates the potential of NPM principles, including decentralization and performance management, in the local context.
4.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that poverty and cultural norms are primary drivers, and recommends policy and managerial shifts toward NPM to improve institutional responsiveness and efficiency.
Keywords
Child Labour, New Public Management, Ghana, Dambai, Poverty, Socio-economic, Public Administration, Children Rights, Decentralization, Performance Management, Stakeholder Participation, Socialisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the persistence of child labour in Dambai, Ghana, and evaluates whether New Public Management (NPM) can replace the ineffective, rigid, and centralized bureaucratic system currently in place.
What are the central themes of the work?
The study revolves around household poverty as a driver, the influence of cultural perceptions on child labour, the shortcomings of current state institutions, and the potential benefits of decentralizing management and introducing performance-based metrics.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The objective is to assess the applicability of the New Public Management approach to solving child labour issues, specifically investigating why parents resist elimination measures and how administrative reforms could improve outcomes.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The study adopted an exploratory research approach using qualitative techniques, including in-depth interviews with 23 participants, such as children, parents, and government officials, supplemented by direct observations.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the background of child rights in Ghana, detailed findings from field interviews regarding the causes of child labour, and a strategic assessment of how NPM principles—such as accountability and service standards—could be implemented locally.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Child Labour, New Public Management, Dambai, Ghana, Poverty, and institutional reform.
How do cultural practices influence the findings in Dambai?
The study found that many parents view child labour not as exploitation, but as a legitimate form of cultural socialisation and skill-building for children to succeed in the future, which complicates purely legalistic interventions.
Why do respondents believe NPM is more effective than the current bureaucratic system?
Respondents feel the current system is under-resourced and unresponsive. They argue that NPM would allow for locally-driven, flexible, and outcome-oriented programmes that are more accountable and less susceptible to the corruption associated with traditional government structures.
- Quote paper
- Joshua-Luther Ndoye Upoalkpajor (Author), Ntassan Cletus Upoalkpajor (Author), 2017, New Public Management approach and management of child labour issues in Ghana. The case of Dambai in the Krachi east district, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/355047
