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By Iddi Yire / Abdulai Haruna, GNA
Accra, July 26, GNA – The Anti-Human
The anti-trafficking units of Ghana's police and immigration services counted 20
convictions for trafficking offenses and 12 for other related offenses
in 2018.
Ms. Freda Prempeh, a deputy minister of
Gender, children and social protection, said that out of the total 13 were children
work offenses.
While 14 people were indicted and
sentenced for child labor exploitation and sentenced to a fine of 120
the defendants were charged with trafficking in human beings and imprisoned
between five and seven years old.
She stated that during the period
the cases were the subject of an investigation; on this number the police investigated 77,
Immigration 14 cases and the Bureau of Economic and Organized Crime (EOCO) a
Case.
Madam Prempeh, who made the revelation on
Friday at the commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Human Beings –
"Blue Day" in Accra, said that there was a significant improvement in 2018 in terms of
prosecution unlike 2017 when they had only four convictions.
The event was organized by the Ministry of
Gender, children and social protection in collaboration with civil society with
financing of the British High Commission.
It was to give stakeholders the opportunity
to find out where they had come in the fight against human trafficking in
Ghana.
UN defines trafficking in human beings
as recruitment, transportation, transfer, accommodation or reception of persons
by inappropriate means (such as force, kidnapping, fraud or coercion) for a
Inappropriate purpose including forced labor or badual exploitation.
Every year, the UN celebrates the world day
Against human trafficking, raise public awareness, encourage vigilance and
obtain support for the prevention of human trafficking.
Ms. Prempeh said that there were two people
shelters in the country for victims of human trafficking, one for adult women
victims who was operational and receiving victims and also children
shelter.
She said the ministry had four psychologists
manage these shelters so that clients get the best possible support
could.
She said that trafficking in human beings is an organized activity
crime and this phenomenon has been recognized as a global challenge, affecting
millions of people including women and children and hindering their fundamental
rights and freedoms.
She stated that the modus operandi of the
the perpetrators of this heinous crime against humanity were through the
recruitment, transport, accommodation and reception of victims of trafficking
for the purpose of exploitation.
She said that the farm takes the form of
physical, badual, emotional and psychological abuse of the victims.
She said that in 2015, a study
by the International Justice Mission (IJM) which focused on
The southern part of Lake Volta revealed that out of 771 children
interviewed, it was discovered that more than half of the children were victims
23% were under six years of age and more than half were
less than 10 years old.
Deputy Minister said Winneba, Ningo and
Ada were discovered as source communities in Akosombo, Kpeve, Kpando and
The island communities on Lake Volta were the destination communities.
She said that chapter five of 1992
Constitution guaranteed the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all
people; specifically Articles 16 and 17 stipulate that no one may be
subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
She said to prevent, protect and punish
trafficking in human beings, Ghana signed the Palermo Protocol in 2000 and
ratified in 2012.
Madam Prempeh said through these efforts:
Ghana was currently ranked as a Tier 2 country in the United States Department.
ranking by country level of workforce; adding that "this shows that the
The government is making great efforts to fight human trafficking in Ghana. "
Thomas Hartley, British High Representative
Commissioner in Ghana, said that the United Kingdom was in partnership with the Government of Ghana
protecting the most vulnerable and marginalized through the "Do not let anyone
Behind "social protection program.
"He is backed with £ 39.2 million of British funds
funding over the next five years, "he said.
"A key element of the program is supporting a
a centralized channel for beneficiaries of all social protection programs
make grievances and report violations and other abuses, report bad practices,
and ask for information on all social protection programs. "
GNA
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