20 November 2009
Ms. Betty Bosomtwi-Sam, the Western Regional Deputy Minister, has called on the Ghana Police Service and its allied security agencies to step up efforts in the fight against human trafficking.
She said the Service must introduce anti-trafficking mechanisms and increase public awareness on the menace.
Ms Bosomtwi-Sam was speaking in Takoradi.at the inauguration of the Western Region Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
With a theme of 'Don't Close Your Eyes to Human Trafficking', the programme, was a collaborative effort between the Police and UNICEF.
The Deputy Minister observed that human trafficking had become a lucrative industry and was regarded as the third most profitable illegal activity following closely behind drugs and arms.
The majority of trafficking, she said, is done in networks and by large criminal organisation.
Ms Bosomtwi-Sam noted how vulnerable and powerless the trafficked children were: "They often come from poorer areas where opportunities are limited".
She lauded the passage of the anti-human trafficking legislation and said the law enforcement agencies would be given the needed training to tackle human trafficking.
Policies aimed at rooting out corruption and organized crime, she said, would also be promoted.
DCOP Mohammed Hamidu, Regional Police Commander noted that law enforcement should be a shared responsibility between security agencies and the public.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Frank Adu-Poku, Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said Ghana currently is plagued with all the three illicit trades, namely drug, arms and human trafficking.
He said this was unfortunate and undermined the security of the country as human trafficking robbed children, women and other victims of their dignity, future and sometimes their lives.
According to him, many people did not know the full implication of human trafficking and therefore sensitizing the public was very important.
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