Religion of Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Source: GNA

Day of Prayer for Human Trafficking Victims marked

The Methodist Church of Ghana, Adjiriganor Congregation, in collaboration with SEWA Foundation, an NGO committed to curbing human trafficking, has said special prayers for survivors and victims of human trafficking.

The event dubbed “Day of Prayer for Human Trafficking Victims” coincided with the World Day of Prayer for Human Trafficking Victims aimed at creating awareness about human trafficking and as well as the need to pray for them so their spiritual needs would be catered for.

Rev. John K. French, Minister in-charge of the Adjiriganor Congregation of the Methodist Church, said issues of such nature could be attributed to economic conditions but parents were sometimes ignorant about the dangers of neglecting their children to cater for themselves.

Rev.French said most of these victims of which majority were children, ended up becoming robbers and drug trafficking.

He appealed to parents to understand their responsibilities, adding “before giving birth parents must ask themselves; can I ensure the comfort and safety of this child?”

Speaking to the GNA, he said among the four basic platforms to be used in eliminating issues concerning human trafficking in the society were the family, the church, school and the larger community.

He said if families were well constituted and rendered their responsibilities these problems could be controlled.

He said the leadership of churches could deepen the moral upbringing of children to make it difficult for them to be lured by their peers.

Rev. French said the church believed that partnering with Sewa Foundation would spearhead the campaign as a form of its social responsibility.

The Reverend Minister therefore urged the citizenry to come on board in fighting human trafficking in Ghana.

According to SEWA Foundation, human trafficking was on the ascendency in the country and one of the difficulties that the Foundation encountered was perpetrators were not easy to trace.

Mr.Jones Owusu-Yeboah, Executive Director of SEWA Foundation, said the canker could be controlled and eventually uprooted if prayer was added to cater for the spiritual aspect of it.

He said victims were sometimes demoralized to the extent that they needed prayers and the services of psychologists.

Mr. Owusu-Yeboah said the Foundation had undertaken many rescue operations aimed at integrating these victims into the society and “so far we have rescued about 200 victims.”

He appealed to institutions, organisations and individuals to support the Foundation.

The Adjiriganor Congregation of the Methodist Church donated GH¢ 700.00 to the SEWA Foundation, as part of its contributions towards combating human trafficking.