A study conducted by the International Labour Organization in Africa indicates that child trafficking is the next most lucrative business after dealings in arms and drugs.
The study also reveals that globally over 1.2 million children are trafficked annually out of which between 200,000 to 800,000 occur in Africa, whereas 200,000 children are trafficked each year in West Africa.
However, here in Ghana, 2003 survey report from the Ghana Statistical Service estimated that a total of 1.27 million children who were engaged in child labour are linked to internal trafficking situation.
This situation, the report noted has been made possible because Ghana has become a source, transit and destination point of victims of child trafficking whereas no practical efforts have been made by the country's security agencies to drastically correct the situation.
The National Programmes Coordinator of the International Labour Organisation, Mr. Mathew Dally who made this revelation at the official launch of Child Trafficking Awareness Raising Campaign in Kumasi Thursday said the situation was disheartening and needed urgent holistic approach to combat child trafficking/ labour.
The awareness raising campaign attracted groups like Ghana Employers Association, industrialists, Educationist, key government officials/politicians, religious bodies, NGO's CBO’s, traditional leaders, senior civil/public servants as well as the media.
According to Mr. Dally, the campaign will be carried out in industries, geographical areas, schools and communities with the involvement of the various Regional Coordinating Council, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies as well as traditional authorities.
The ILO Coordinator explained that the purpose of the function was to prepare the atmosphere for the public to know how committed the government was to eliminating the canker from the country.
To him, until the chronic problem of poverty, ignorance, obnoxious cultural practices, economic inequalities are effectively and adequately addressed, the fight against child labour and trafficking would not be won anytime soon. Mr. Dally also that "high unemployment rate and demand for cheap labour, inadequate border controls and insufficient educational facilities are also factors contributing to child trafficking in Ghana.
He said most children who fall prey to such traffickers are subjected to hardships and are often denied access to quality education.
"Trafficking victims work long hours in harsh inhumane conditions, deprived of education, denied basic healthcare, adequate nutrition and might be subjected to mental, physical and sexual abuse. They are treated like slaves and loose all their human rights. Often subjected to hazardous working conditions and confined to the work place and suffer long term psychological disorders". He therefore called on everybody to get involved in the fight against child labour/ trafficking in the country.
Nana Ampofo Twumasi, Asemhene, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfour, noted that since most trafficked children are often exposed to all kinds of inhumane activities like prostitution and selling at nights, they could be subjected to rape and defilement.
He said the Ashanti Region was much interested in the fight against the eradication of the problem and will render its outmost support to the government as well as the ILO to help make their awareness creation campaign a success.
