UK supports Ghana with £ 39.2 to protect the most vulnerable

Accra, July 26, GNA – The United Kingdom is
partnership with the Government of Ghana to protect the most vulnerable and
marginalized by the social protection program "Leave no one behind".

Thomas Hartley, British High Representative
Commissioner in Ghana says program would be supported by 39.2 million pounds sterling
funding over the next five years.

He said a key part of the program
supports a centralized channel for beneficiaries of all social protections
programs to raise grievances and report violations and other abuses, report
abusive practices and request information on all social protection programs.

Mr. Hartley this had been operationalized
through the creation of a call center, the "Helpline of Hope", located at
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

He said this Friday at a stakeholder meeting
Conference commemorating the World Day Against Human Trafficking – "Blue
Day "in Accra.

The event was organized by the Ministry of
Gender, children and social protection, in collaboration with civil society,
with funding from 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.

Mr. Hartley said that modern slavery was one of the
the greatest challenges of our time in terms of human rights; stating that "it attacks
the most vulnerable, stripped of their freedom and often of their humanity, and
engage them in a life that for some victims is a fate worse than death. "

"It's our responsibility as citizens of
this land to make sure it ends, and ends for good. "

He recalled that in September 2017, in the
on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, many countries, including Ghana
joined the British Prime Minister's call for action against forced labor,
Slavery and Trafficking in Human Beings (MSHT).

He said that it was a clear statement of
the political will of the United Kingdom and its intention to work at the national, regional and
to achieve GDO 8.7 – and take immediate and effective action
measures to eliminate forced labor and put an end to modern slavery and to
traffic.

He said that up to now more than 60 countries had
approved the United Kingdom's call for action (including Ghana, the United States, Australia,
Japan and Italy).

He said that the UK was a long-time partner
Government of Ghana and pledged to accelerate the movement of Ghana
towards self-sufficiency, according to Nana Addo Dankwa, Speaker of Parliament, "Ghana
Beyond the aid agenda.

"We have a deep partnership through security,
prosperity and inclusion, including our strong links from people to people. "

Mr. Harley said, "For this partnership to be
together, we agree that all British and Ghanaian citizens must
benefit from economic growth. We have to make it inclusive, and fit to treat
poverty and protect the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. Today we
to recognize an important aspect of this common goal: to combat trafficking in human beings. "

He said that almost all countries have
the laws on human trafficking, yet people continue to be trafficked – the majority
they, women and girls.

"We welcome the progress made by Ghana in
fight against modern slavery, by implementing the fight against trafficking in human beings and
The Children's Act (Prohibiting the Employment of Children), the National Action Plan and
establish a unit to fight against trafficking in persons within the police to investigate cases
and return people to prosecution, "he said.

The Deputy High Commissioner said that the United Kingdom
The National Clearinghouse on Child Trafficking (CTAC United Kingdom) worked with
stakeholders to raise the standards of safeguarding and protecting children in Ghana.

He said that this program was delivered in
partnership with local partners in the fight against child trafficking (Afrikids, GIS, GP,
DSW).

Ms. Freda Prempeh, a deputy minister of
Gender, Children and Social Protection, declared in 2018, in court, the
The anti-human trafficking units of the Ghana Police and Immigration Services had
20 convictions for trafficking offenses and 12 for related offenses
offenses.

She said that there was a significant improvement
in 2018 in terms of lawsuits unlike in 2017 where they had only four
convictions.

GNA