The Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Command on Monday arrested five suspects for child trafficking at Kintampo.

The names of the suspects, who were allegedly trafficking 20 teenagers from Walewale in the Northern Region to Kumasi, were not released.

Also arrested was Yussif Isaa, the driver of the Benz bus with registration number AS 7685-12, who was conveying the female victims between the ages of 15 and 20 years.

Narrating the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Thursday, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lydia Acheampong Ntow, Regional Commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) said the Police on Monday July 30, 2012 on its routine checks intercepted the Benz bus at Kintampo.

She said upon interrogation, the teenagers confirmed they were on vacation and decided to embark on the journey to look for menial jobs to enable them to fend for themselves when school reopened.

The Regional Commander said the Police suspected foul play, and transported the victims and the suspects to the Police Regional Headquarters in Sunyani and placed them in custody. Two days later, she said, the teenagers were sent back to Walewale.

ASP Ntow said investigations were still on-going and noted that poverty was a contributory factor to child trafficking and called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to assist needy women to go into economic ventures for their livelihood.

She also appealed to the assemblies to support needy but brilliant students in their education.

ASP Ntow noted with regret that child trafficking was in ascendancy in Brong-Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions and entreated the general public to lend support in fighting the menace.

She appealed to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport organisations to join hands to help curb child trafficking and the attendant consequences by alerting the Police of any suspicious characters, especially at bus terminals.**