Government has donated items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to the Gender Ministry for a state-operated adult shelter.

The cost of items estimated about GHC180,000 comprises of bunk beds, mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, fridge, cups, bowls, towels, furniture, TV sets, cooking utensils, mower, gas stoves and many more household appliances.

The adult shelter which is the first of its kind in the country will be a haven for female victims of human trafficking.

Speaking to the media, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection; Cynthia Morrison said Ghana over the years has been a source, transit and destination country for men, women and children who are trafficked and subjected to forced labour and sexual exploitation, hence, a great milestone for the Akufo-Addo-led government and her ministry to establish an adult shelter where victims would be protected.

According to Madam Cynthia Morrison, her ministry in 2017 collaborated with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department under the Ghana Police Service rescued 229 victims while the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit under the Ghana Immigration Services rescued 216 adult victims. In 2018 both institutions rescued 341 victims; out of this, 95 were adults and the rest children.

She indicated that although there has been significant improvement in convictions, they are however being faced with challenges since adult victims especially women fail to testify during prosecutions because they feel threatened, reason government has set up a safe and furnished place for them.

Commending President Akufo-Addo for the support, Cynthia Morrison said “The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection takes this opportunity to appreciate the President Nana Akufo-Addo for all his support and resources provided to the Ministry and for that matter the Human Trafficking Fund to undertake the activities in renovating and furnishing the government section of the children shelter and the state adult shelter to implement the HT NPA”.

The Gender Minister handed over the items to the Chief Director of the Human Trafficking Secretariat, Victoria Natsu and urged her to work hard in ensuring victims at the shelter feel loved and protected from danger.

She further thanked the US Embassy for strengthening Ghana’s drive in the fight against human trafficking and pleaded with organisations and philanthropists to support the shelter by providing them with items.