The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has commemorated this year’s World Day against Human Trafficking at Mepe in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region with calls for concerted efforts to help eliminate human trafficking in the country.
The Ministry in collaboration with key stakeholders has begun campaigns in some communities where human trafficking is rampant to sensitise residents to the negative effects of the menace.
The Deputy Gender Minister, Hajia Lariba Abudu said though the country has made some progress in its fight against human trafficking and smuggling, more needs to be done to tackle the root causes at the community level to eradicate it.
The World Day against Trafficking in Persons which is also known as “Blue Day” was instituted by the United Nations to be marked on July 30 annually to encourage governments worldwide to take measures to fight human and child trafficking.
Participants at the national event which was held at Mepe included traditional authorities, transport owners, market leaders and assembly members.
The Head of the Human Trafficking Secretariat under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Abena Annobea Asare disclosed that the Ministry has intensified its prevention mechanisms through awareness creation at the community level to curb the canker.
The Queen Mother of Mepe Traditional Area, Mama Adzo Sraku, urged traditional leaders, especially Queen Mothers to lead the fight against all forms of exploitation in their communities.
The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hajia Lariba Abudu urged communities to protect the rights of Ghanaians especially children from all forms of exploitation and warned that perpetrators of such acts will face the full rigors of the law.
Representatives of various security agencies pledged their commitment to stop human trafficking and smuggling, especially along the country’s border.
By: Elorm Aryee.
