High rate of child trafficking and child abuse are due to poverty

Akye-Amanfrom (E/R), July 22, GNA - Mr Kofi Obese-Kyei, an opinion leader at Akye-Amanfrom in the Kwahu North District, on Wednesday attributed the high rate of child trafficking, child abuse and child labour to poverty among parents who find it difficult to cater for their numerous children.

He therefore called on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWA), and the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to set up children and women funds in their areas to grant financial assistance to women in deprived communities. This would enable the women to undertake income generating activities to enable them to cater for their children. Mr Kyei was contributing to child trafficking and child labour education program organized by the Children's Department of MOWA at Akye-Amanfrom.

He said there are children brought from other parts of the country to fishing communities along the Volta Lake to fish and to undertake other manual work at the expense of their education.

Mr Kyei urged MOWA and the district assembly to set up a Child Welfare Committee in the area to monitor the activities of children and also educate their guardians on the need to send them to school. Mrs Ruth Addison, Head of programs and project of the Children's Department of MOWA, said there was a women development fund at MOWA and appealed to women to form co-operatives to access the fund. She appealed to the assembly to mobilize the women for MOWA officials to undertake advocacy, capacity building and skills training program in food preservation, processing and other income generating activities for them. 22 July 09