Hot!
Police rescues 523 from human trafficking
At least 523 persons including 391 children who were trafficked have been rescued by the Police across the country for the past two years.
Similarly, 44 children were also rescued in the first quarter of this year.
The victims who were between the ages of five and 17 years were used on the farms, fishing,and child prostitution, among others.
The Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent(C/Supt) Mike Baah, disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday stating that 132 adults were also rescued and cited poverty and deception as the major causes of human trafficking in the country.
He stated that as part of efforts to address the situation in the country, the Unit would intensify its education and sensitisation programmes to the public on the negative effects on the country.
“We have identified the sources and receiving areas and we will intensify our sensitisation and the education on the negative effects of child trafficking to the nation and intensify our collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the security agencies and the non-governmental and faith-based organisations to minimise the canker,
“The capacity of personnel and other security agencies are being built on trafficking issues and given the best skills and knowledge to detect such cases and the law enforcement agencies will enforce the law to ensure offenders are not let off the hook and to serve as deterrent to others,” C/Supt Baah indicated.
He stressed the need to protect the rights of children in the country with some of the trafficking cases sometimes resulted in death and maiming of the children and the rescued children were sent to Shelter for protection while others were reunited with their families.
C/Supt Baah explained that some of the adults of other nationals who were trafficked for prostitution had been repatriated to their countries in collaboration with their respective Embassies.
He said suspects arrested within the two-year period were put before court and some were convicted ranging from five to 18 years and cautioned parents to desist from giving out their children for money, adding that “the practice is criminal and when caught will be arrested and prosecuted if established that as parents you are accomplices in human trafficking cases.”
C/Supt Baah appealed to the public and the media to be vigilant in their communities, and report such culprits to the police for immediate action and to collaborate with the AHTU on its sensitisation and education drive to clamp down on such activities.
Source: www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh
The Ghana First Alliance, a movement, is today staging a protest in Accra against the renewal of the mining licence of Gold Fields, a mining company owned by a South African citizen operating in Ghana.
The demonstration, dubbed “Operation No Contract Renewal: South Africa Must Go,” is being held to demand that government does not renew the company’s licence.
The group says their protest is linked to recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa by a protest group known as “march to march.”
They claim that many Ghanaian-owned shops were looted, while others were attacked, with some cases leading to deaths.
They also say the situation forced the Ghana government to evacuate thousands of Ghanaians from South Africa back to Ghana.
Speaking to some of the protesters, they said they will move to several key locations in Accra, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Jubilee House, where they intend to present their petition.
The protesters are calling on government to terminate the Gold Fields contract and hand over the mining concessions to capable Ghanaians to manage.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
