Accra — Human trafficking is a social canker which should not be tolerated in any decent society as victims are subjected to all imaginable forms of exploitation and indignities.

This explains why all and sundry lauded the passage of the Human Trafficking Act in 2005 as a tool that could help deal effectively with the menace which have rocked many homes.

Thus, it was disturbing when it came to light at a recent workshop on how to improve anti-human trafficking measures that four years after enacting the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 which gave birth to the Human Trafficking Fund, the fund is still empty.

This raises fundamental questions as to how committed we are as a country to fight human trafficking as well as rehabilitating victims of the inhuman act.

With the empty coffers the anticipated financial support for victims of human trafficking who have been rescued from slavery by State agencies would not be forthcoming and the expected resettlement and reintegration of victims would continue be a mirage. This act of omission, needless to say, is impeding the full implementation of certain aspects of the Act.

Sources of the Fund are to come from voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations from the private sector, grants from bilateral and multilateral sources, proceeds from the confiscation of property connected with trafficking and any other sources approved by the Finance Minister and upheld by Parliament.

It is regrettable that a Fund of this magnitude created by an Act of Parliament is not being giving the desired attention like similar funds such as the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), the Road Fund, the GETFund, among others. No wonder a participant at the workshop remarked that non-payment of money of into Fund is a reflection of the priority placed on justice by the Ghanaian society.

We must set our priorities right if we are to make strides at development. Many institutions have been donating generously towards the organizations of the beauty pageants, what about the Human Trafficking Fund?

We wish to make a passionate appeal to all well meaning Ghanaians, philanthropists and institutions in addition to those already specified by the law to make donations towards this worthy cause.

Adequate funds for anti-human trafficking will go a long way to empower the security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to discharge their responsibilities effectively without any inhibition knowing very well that rescued victims of human trafficking would be provided with the needed wherewithal for their resettlement.