Ga Mantse Declares War on Child Fishing: Parents Face Arrest if Kids Skip School for the Sea
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has announced tough new measures to stop children in the Ga State from missing school to work in fishing.
Speaking at the 2026 Kinka Blonya—a joyful annual New Year celebration for children—on January 1, 2026, the king said a new by-law is coming that will make it a crime for parents to let their children fish instead of attending school.
Once passed, any parent who allows or forces their child to fish at the expense of education will be arrested and taken to court.
The king explained that this strong step is part of a bigger push by all traditional leaders in the Ga State to protect children’s futures through better education.
“We are coming together to make education the top priority. Soon, child fishing that keeps kids out of school will be against the law,” he declared.
He pointed to ongoing efforts, including scholarships for nearly 1,000 schoolchildren across the Ga community, to make schooling easier and drive long-term progress.
“With over 1,000 scholarships available, parents have no excuse not to send their children to school. Let us all unite to raise the next generation of Ga children for a brighter future,” the Ga Mantse urged.
This announcement has been welcomed by many as a bold move to break the cycle of child labour in coastal communities and give every Ga child a real chance at quality education.
