NINE GIRLS RESCUED IN GUSHEGU FROM NIGERIA

Human trafficking has become the modern form of slavery across West African countries which gaining ways and has turn as a menace to the society. To combat this menace World Vision in collaboration with the Anti-Human trafficking unit of the Ghana Police Service has rescued nine girls in the Gushegu district who were trafficked to Nigeria for commercial sex activities. This came to the light when World Vision organized a durbar on child trafficking at Gushegu in the Gushegu district of the Northern region. In an address by the Director for Advocacy and Marketing, Rev. Mrs. Agnes Phillips of World Vision, said the organization since its inception in 1995, has its aim of bettering the life of the Ghana child in the society. According to her, the organization has been collaborating with the Anti-Human trafficking unit of the Ghana Police service to combat and reduce child trafficking in the country. Rev. Agnes however advised parents to enroll their wards in school to reduce the poverty and illiteracy rate in the area. She stated that it is due to illiteracy that makes traffickers to lure girls to achieve their parochial interest. She said those innocent girls go through all the ordeal treatment and abuse. The Head of Anti-Human trafficking, Superintendent Patience Quaye said the victims were rescued upon a surveillance conducted by the unit in Nigeria and other neighboring countries where the naive girls were fortunate to come to their way upon a tip off. She disclosed that with the exception of arms and drugs, the third most lucrative business now is child trafficking which is gaining stands in the Ghanaian society. Superintendent Patience Quaye however called for collaborative efforts to combat child trafficking. She warned parents and the general public to be wary of offenders and report cases to the police. The regent of Gushegu, Abu Bawa Yakubu in his speech said human trafficking is against humanity and perpetrators should face the rigors of the law. She pledged his support in combating human trafficking in the area. The victims in her testimony confirmed the abuse they have gone through in the hands of their superior ranking from sexual abuse, illegal abortions and brutalities.