Ho, Nov. 8, GNA - Mr. Prosper Agblor, Acting Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has urged the public not to take issue of human trafficking as trifling. He said this at the inauguration of the Volta Regional Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) in Ho on the theme "Don't close your eyes to Human Trafficking". Mr Agblor said even though the police had been making arrests and prosecuting offenders, the phenomenon was gradually becoming a highly lucrative and exploitative business in Ghana, observing that "in recent years, Ghana has emerged as a major source, transit and destination point of Human Trafficking".

"Our children and women especially have become victims of trafficking and have been trafficked both internally and externally to be engaged in sexual exploitation and forced labour among others," he said.

Mr Agblor said "the danger posed by this heinous crime is enormous. There is therefore the need for a greater collaboration by all the stakeholders to effectively fight this menace". He said "there exist in Ghana a large pool of potential victims rendered vulnerable by extreme poverty and ignorance". He said the Police Administration was resolved to curb human trafficking and urged the public to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of traffickers. Assistant Commissioner of Police David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, in a speech read on his behalf appealed to the citizenry to help in eradicating the menace by being each other's keeper, especially women and children, since they were the most vulnerable.

Mama Agblatsu III, a Queen of Ho-Bankoe, speaking on behalf assured the police of the traditional council's support.