Gender Minister supports trafficked children with GHC27, 800

Ms Otiko Afisah Djaba, Minister of Gender, Children and Social protection has presented an amount of GHC27, 800.00 to three private and one state own shelters in the Greater Accra and Central Regions.

The donation is part of the ministry’s efforts to ensure maximum protection, care and proper rehabilitation of 125 rescued victims of trafficking in the country.

Ms Djaba, presenting the cheques, expressed appreciation to the Supervisors of the Shelters for their readiness to accept and give quality care to the vulnerable children.

She was particularly impressed to see the children in good health, in high spirit and undergoing literacy classes, recreation and enjoying their childhood which had been taken away from them while in exploitative labour before their rescued.

Ms Djaba used the opportunity to wish all children in Ghana a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, adding that, “Other shelters giving care to children in the country will also receive support in due time.”

The Government of Ghana has demonstrated improved anti-human trafficking law enforcement efforts by prohibiting all forms of trafficking through its 2005 Human Trafficking Act, Act 694, which prescribes a minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment for all forms of trafficking.

Approximately about 61 percent of all trafficking cases reported in Ghana are labor-related, while 39 percent were sexual exploitation.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is therefore working closely with the Ghana Immigration Service to continue to patrol the borders and ports to expose crimes related to human trafficking and irregular migration of young women to the outside world.

The Ministry is also working with the Attorney General’s Department and the Judiciary to prosecute perpetrators of trafficking.