Child labour in the cocoa producing area of Gomoa Ofaso, Winneba District, Ghana, 1874-1940

Adjoh-Davoh, V.D. (2024)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis focuses on child labour in producing bountiful supply of cocoa in the cocoa-producing area of Gomoa Ofaso in the Winneba District from 1874 when there was labour shortage up to 1940 when colonial Ghana was the principal producer of cocoa globally. This thesis has been divided into six chapters. This thesis, by the use of qualitative research methodology, demonstrated that market forces after the abolition of domestic slavery in 1874 together with the introduction and export of cocoa intensified the use of child labour in this District due to the shortage of labour. The research of child labour in cocoa production in the colonial period is important because it has often been categorised as an example of the worst forms of child labour, yet it has not been adequately studied. This thesis contributes to the discourse on child labour in the colonial period and how the colonial labour problem was dealt with in cocoa production.

• History
• Africa
• West Africa
• Minimun Age
• Employment
• Colonial
• Slavery
• Abolition
• Nineteenth century
• Twentieth century
• Factory Acts

• All authors: Adjoh-Davoh, V.D.
• Supervisor: Bruijn, M.E. de
• Co-supervisor: Bellucci, S.
• Committee: Gewald, J.B.; Ntewusu, S.; Nkwi Gam, W.; Vondee-Awortwi, J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute for History, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2024-07-02