Bitter chocolate: The use of forced child labour and child slavery in the cocoa industry.

This thesis explores the pervasive issue of forced child labour and child slavery in the cocoa industry, with a focus on Ghana. This project examines the historical context, current state, existing legislative framework, corporate responsibility, and potential solutions to the use of forced child labour cocoa industry. Firstly the research delves into the historical context of cocoa production in Africa, particularly in West Africa, as well as its significance and impact on the region. This following section explores the historical ties between forced labour, slavery, and child labour within the cocoa industry, their interconnections and long-standing presence.Lastly the research examines why existing legislation and legal frameworks such as the Harkin Engel protocol have failed to eradicate the use of forced child labour in the industry, and explores the roles different actors such as multinationals play and looks at possible solutions drawn from best practices from other industries and smaller cocoa producers in Latin America.