By: Rachel Kakraba
Ghana joins the global community to mark UN Day against Human Trafficking today. Commemorated annually on July 30th, the day raises awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
Human trafficking is a crime that exploits persons especially women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. Countries the world over including Ghana are affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims.
Speaking to GBCNEWS, in Accra, Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Afisah Zakaria, said this year’s theme “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking” focusses on child protection.
“Children are the most vulnerable, they are easily lured into human trafficking, and they use various means to lure them into human trafficking. I mean, it’s quite serious. In Ghana, we are a transit point, and we are also a destination point”
She said in Ghana, about hundred children are rescued into shelters annually, adding with concerted efforts Human Trafficking could be eliminated.
“There are children from this country who are also being trafficked outside. Just to give you the barest minimum, those we put in our shelter, not less than 100 children a year”
A member of the Coalition of NGOs Against Child Trafficking, Jacqui Oyimer, appealed to the government to release funds to relevant agencies in the Human Trafficking fight to undertake various intervention initiatives.
“In budgeting for the human trafficking fund, we appeal to the government to release the funds to the necessary agencies. Because we believe that the agencies are ready to work. They have shown over the years that they have worked. They have put in so much effort”
She asked the citizenry to be vigilant and volunteer information that will help in the fight against Human Trafficking.
“So if you see your neighbor trafficking somebody or their child, please call them to stop and ask them to stop trafficking. So we are each other’s keepers”
She appealed to law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute persons found culpable for engaging in the act to serve as a deterrent to others.
