Ernest Ohene-Kissiedu
12 February 2008
Accra — The acting Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms. Anna Bossman has bemoaned the rate at which Ghanaian children are being exploited for commercial sex in the country which she says poses a great threat to the nation.
In a press release, she described prostitution as an illegal and undignified activity even when it is practised among adults.
"And it is even more horrendous and extremely injurious when it involves children", she said.
Ms. Anna Bossman said it is particularly difficult to assess the extent of child prostitution because this type of exploitation and abuse is usually hidden, taking place behind closed doors and most children feel much guilt, shame and fear to seek help.
Ms. Bossman talked about the 140 children alleged to have escaped from the Social Welfare Department after being rescued from prostitution by the police.
This incident, she said, presents a critical setback because it creates more opportunities for the children to be continually abused.
"An awareness creation campaign of the intractable challenges of poverty exploitation and rights abuses facing these children is vital to enable the facilitation of a safer world for them. Entry into prostitution should not be imputed to economic necessity", she said.
She said the campaign must be implemented urgently and, "Government must scale up efforts through resource allocation, political action, increased co-operation and more focused partnerships with the law enforcement agencies, media and civil society".
According to Ms. Bossman, the campaign also calls for the spirit of alertness by all to ensure that children enjoy maximum protection.
"The duty to ensure that Ghana's children are not exposed to abuse, stigmatization and psychological trauma is for all of us, each and every adult in this country", she said.
She urged all communities and family members to report abuses to the relevant authorities to expose heinous crimes from threatening the nation.
Ms. Bossman called on the police, prosecutors and all public services working directly with children to protect them from any abuse and violence and to strive to achieve children's well being in the areas of health and education.
"Our children are after all, the future of our nation", she said.
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