Accra--Gold used in jewellery and electronics around the world may have been sourced from mines using illegal child labour in Ghana, Human Rights Watch claimed Wednesday.
A report by the group found that while most international refiners trading with Ghana had responsible sourcing policies, it was still hard to ensure their gold was child labour-free.
Ghanaian laws ban children below the age of 15 from working and those under 18 from toiling in hazardous conditions such as in mines.
But the use of children as young as nine is still common in small-scale mines -- most of which operate illegally -- that account for about one third of the industry, the report said.
That not only put children at risk from a heavy workload and dust that causes lung diseases but also from mercury, which is used to separate gold from other minerals easily and cheaply.
Mercury, which attacks the central nervous system and can cause brain damage, is particularly harmful to children, as their systems are still developing, causing irreversible effects.
The report was published before the World Day Against Child Labour on Friday, a United Nations-backed initiative to highlight the situation facing the world's estimated 215 million child workers.
AFP
