Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney -General and Minister of Justice on Tuesday stated that there was no specific offence for human trafficking under the criminal code.

He said the loophole has been exploited to the advantage of persons, who engaged in the practice, saying: "This loophole in Ghanaian criminal legislation has been identified and the Criminal Code of 1960 (Act 29) will be amended shortly to proscribe the practice."

Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking on: "State responsibility and contemporary challenges in women's human rights protection in Ghana" at a public event organised by The Ark Foundation Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Accra.

It was to mark the end of: "Women's Leadership, Human Rights and Democratic Participation Training Project." The Foundation, which is an advocacy-based human rights organisation, focuses primarily on the promotion and protection of rights of women and children.

It was also expected to ensure equality in the society, based on working principles that reflect on the values of respect, and dignity of all persons. Nana Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the growing sub-regional and international dimensions of human trafficking and its links with organised transitional crime.

He said: "This has attracted the attention of ECOWAS leaders, leading to an endorsement of an ECOWAS Plan of Action last year aimed at eliminating human trafficking and encouraging specific actions by member states towards the realisation of the objectives."

The Attorney General also announced that an ECOWAS Child Protection Unit had been set-up to ensure compliance by member states. He said Ghana had signed and ratified a number of international human rights treaties, which made it an obligation for the country to effectively protect the human rights of women.

Nana Akufo-Addo noted: "We are abreast with our obligations as a state to provide a conducive regulatory framework regarding the protection of the rights of women,” He stated that the country was fully engaged in the processes that would lead to the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on the rights of women.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana places a responsibility on the state to enhance the rights of women.

He mentioned that the directive of principles of state policy also set out principles for the foundation of good governance, essential for the establishment of a just and free society. He said in view of this, President John Agyekum Kufuor had attempted to increase the number of women in his government.

Nana Akuffo-Addo, however, said: "Much needs to be done to arouse the consciousness of women about their rights to enable them to realise their full potentials in society." He also called for strict enforcement of laws that sought to stop female genital mutilation and prohibit customary servitude under the criminal code.

He said the Ministries of Justice and the Interior were collaborating with one another to strengthen the enforcement of such laws and to educate people that these "practices are unconstitutional, illegal, degrading to women and no longer acceptable in contemporary Ghanaian society."

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women Affairs stated that women were endowed with special talents and virtues, which were yet to be tapped for national development. She expressed regret that the public sector had not yet recognised women's managerial capabilities and immense contributions to the development process.

Mrs Asmah called for a review of cultural orientation of society and the education of the public to accept that women just as their male counterparts were capable of contributing to national development.

She said: Campaign against all cultural practices that degrade women's status and deny them opportunities of contributing effectively in public life must be intensified."

Mr Pollen Owen, British High Commissioner, urged governments to address women's issue holistically in national policy formulation and implementation. He explained that women issues cut-across social-economic-and political life, noting, and must be central in developmental policies.

Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the NGO, gave the assurance that it would continue to fight for the rights of women. She said the NGO would also ensure " Affirmative action, policy co-ordination and support services for women and child victims of violence".