Christian Council celebrates 80th anniversary

Accra, July 18, GNA- The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is collaborating with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and development partners, to undertake various activities to eliminate child trafficking in Ghana.

Ms Akua Sena Dansua, the sector Minister who made this known in Accra on Saturday said the programme would include community sensitization and awareness drive, to educate parents to stop giving out their children to child traffickers for money. She said victims of child trafficking would be rehabilitated and reintegrated to society.

Ms Dansua was speaking at the 80th anniversary celebration of the Christian Council of Ghana, on the theme: " Fight Against Child Trafficking in Ghana."

She said stakeholders of the programme would also unveil packages like community improvement initiatives, income generation, skills training and micro-credit facilities, to help in the elimination of child trafficking.

Ms Dansua noted that child trafficking is an infringement of the rights of the child as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution and the Children's Act of 1998.

She observed that child traffickers are criminals who are often organised and ruthless.

Rev. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the Council said external trafficking involved the moving of children across borders. He stated that Ghanaian children are being trafficked to countries like Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali to do menial jobs.

Rev. Deegbe said some of the children were taking away by force without the consent of their parents or guardians while others were willingly to follow recruiters, who promised them greener pastures. He said child trafficking had very negative effects on the victims who were denied the opportunity for normal development. He said the victims were also condemned to perpetual poverty, lack of education and employable skills, unhealthy exposure, violent punishment and sexual abuse.