The Minister for Women and Children Affairs has called on Law Enforcement Officials at the nation’s borders to be more vigilant in preventing and arresting human traffickers. Juliana Azumah Mensah says all officials and stakeholders engaged in combating human trafficking should facilitate the implementation of the Human Trafficking Act 2005 (Act 694).

Speaking in a speech read on her behalf at the closing of a training workshop on Human Trafficking, in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua, Juliana Azumah Mensah said the fight against Human Trafficking need concerted effort from Law Enforcement Officials especially the Navy, Immigration, CEPS and the Police.

She noted that the nation’s internal and international rivers and lakes as well as coastal borders, have been identified as one of the means for trafficking and irregular migration, especially the phenomenon of stow-away.

Julain Azumah Mensah said Trafficking and Irregular Migration from Ghana to other countries need additional efforts from all stakeholders in averting it, and promoting the benefits of regular migration.

She expressed the hope that officials would be able to use the expertise gained to effectively prevent, suppress and punish offenders of human trafficking while rescuing victims of trafficking, protecting, rehabilitating and reintegrating them into the society.

Some of the Law Enforcement Officials who took part in the workshop said they have received adequate information on the Human Traffic Act, Child Trafficking Act and related International Protocols. Some of the officials said the training would guide them on how to identify and investigate human trafficking, and prosecute offenders while partnering with other Law Enforcement Agencies.

So far the ministry of Women and Children Affairs have coordinated the training of about One Hundred and Fifteen (115) law enforcement officials, organised by the International Organization for Migration and funded by the Danish Embassy. Participants were drawn from the Ghana Police Service, Navy, Ghana Immigration Service, and CEPS. Others are from the Attorney Generals Department, and Five (5) Naval Officers.

Benjamin Henaku, Koforidua.

STORY #2 Lower Manya Krobo to combat falling standards in BECE.

The Presiding Member for the Lower Manya Krobo District has said that the Assembly is putting in place measures to reverse the poor performance of JHS pupils in the district. David Walter Hormenu said the Assembly is about to enact by-laws to restrict indiscriminate movement of minors, and provide additional infrastructure in schools to lift up the standard of education.

Speaking in an interview David Walter Hormenu said it has become vital for the Lower Manya Krobo Assembly to enact by-laws to check the activities of minors especially school going children after school hours.

He said some of minors, after school hours, are found carrying load at the Agormanya market for money at the expense of their studies. Others also spend several hours playing video games, and other similar places.

David Walter Hormenuu said the Assembly’s by-laws when enacted shall include a District-wide ban of all minors from participating in wake keepings. He added that authorities are about to recruit people into a task force to ensure enforcement of these by-laws.

He mentioned that the offenders, including their parents and shall be called to book and the necessary sanctions meted out to them appropriately. He added that the Assembly is expecting some assistance from the GET Fund to augment the Assembly’s on-going efforts at expanding the infrastructural base of many basic schools.

David Walter Hormenu noted that the Assembly has taken delivery of some free textbooks and school uniforms to be given to some of the pupils in the district, in fulfilment of President Mills’s promise.