Sunyani (B/A), Nov. 27, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye

Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to the

Judiciary to assist the Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit by

disposing off with dispatch cases of human trafficking before the

law courts. He said if cases of human trafficking were dealt with

expeditiously by the Judiciary it would reduce the crime rate and

also served as deterrent to would-be perpetrators. The speedy trial and sentencing of perpetrators might

discourage the occurrence of the atrocious acts and would

encourage the society to assist in exposing and arresting those

involved, the Regional Minister stressed. Mr Nyamekye Marfo made the appeal on Thursday at the

inauguration of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Unit

in Sunyani under the theme: "Don't Close Your Eyes on Human

Trafficking". The inauguration of the Unit in Brong-Ahafo marked the

seventh in the country within the two years of its existence under

the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service. The Regional Minister noted that the task of halting the menace

was great and onerous, adding the burden of checking it was the

responsibility of everyone, both individuals and organisations. He urged all transport associations to join in the fight against

crime, since some agents transport victims, particularly from the

rural communities, in vehicles. Mr Nyamekye Marfo also appealed to chiefs and opinion

leaders to watch out in their towns and villages to flush out the

perpetrators "who come as agents with enticements to recruit

victims". He urged the Police to persist in the face of limited resources

and be tactically and psychologically ready for the challenges

involved in the effort to halt menace. The Regional Minister gave the assurance that Government was

committed to providing the unit with the needed financial and

logistical support to enhance its operations. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Seth Charles Oteng,

Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander in an inaugural address

on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul

Tawiah Quaye, stated human trafficking unlike other crimes as

stealing and fraud, directly affected the health and social and

economic development of victims, who were mostly females and

children. He said human trafficking impacted negatively on the national

economy as it contributed to the breeding of street children,

unskilled labour, and worse of all women forced into prostitution

contracted all kinds of venereal diseases including HIV/AIDS. DCOP Oteng stated that the police administration with the

collaboration of other security agencies, were determined to

eliminate human trafficking. He gave the assurance that the police

would not relent in their efforts, saying "until trafficking in human

beings is no more practised in our society". Nana Twereko Ampim III, Chief of Ntotroso in Asutifi District

and President of Ahafo-Ano Traditional Council, who presided,

lauded the inauguration of the Unit in the region, where he said the

menace was rampant. He said the Asutifi, Bui and Yeji areas in the region were

prominently noted for the obnoxious practice "because of the gold

mining, the dam construction and fishing respectively". Nana Ampim admitted that fighting crime was the responsibility

of every one and urged traditional authorities not to hesitate to

collaborate with the police to check the menace. Superintendent Patience Quaye, Director of the Unit later in an

interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said Ghana was

now rated at tier two instead of tier one. She explained that tier one implied the human trafficking crime

rate in a country was either non-existent or very minimal whilst tier

two meant the rate was high and the tier three very high. Supt. Quaye complemented the appeal to the Judiciary for

cases of human trafficking to be tried in a speedy manner to justify

the country's determination to deal effectively with the menace. There were solidarity messages from other security agencies

and organisations including the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana

Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, Legal

Resource Centre of the Police and the Ministry of Women and

Children Affairs. Prior to the inaugural ceremony, there was a float by the Police

through the principal streets of Sunyani, holding placards with

inscriptions that read "stop human trafficking, it is a killer",

"human trafficking is a crime against humanity", "perpetrators will

be jailed five years minimum", among others. 27 Nov. 10