Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) on Friday announced that her sector ministry would equip the Human Trafficking Management Board (HTMB) to effectively play its co-ordinating role in combating trafficking in the country. She said MOWAC in collaboration with other partners, would support parents, guardians and the vulnerable in society to engage in sustainable alternative livelihoods to reduce human trafficking. Ms Dansua made this known in a speech read on her behalf, at the closing session of a three-day training of trainers' advanced level workshop, organised by MOWAC in collaboration with International Organization for Migration in Accra.

Twenty-five participants drawn from the law enforcement agencies attended the workshop on "Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Project", to combat trafficking in persons and irregular migration from and through Ghana.

They included Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service and Attorney General's Department.

The workshop sponsored by the Danish Embassy, was meant to equip the participants with technical assistance and practical management skills , to enable them detect, investigate, collaborate and prosecute traffickers and smugglers in a more effective manner to reduce the practice.

In addition, it would equip the participants with knowledge on assisting potential migrants on issues of migration. Ms Dansua said human trafficking had assumed an alarming dimension whilst the victims were being exposed to harsh inhuman treatment. She said traffickers had taken advantage of weak enforcement of laws and partnership among stakeholders, the high illiteracy rate, chronic unemployment, lack of information on trafficking issues among other factors to continue to indulge in the act. Ms Dansua said it was against this backdrop that MOWAC would equip the HTMB and foster collaboration among various stakeholders to stem the practice.

She said MOWAC was also establishing counselling centres to sensitize potential victims on the dangers of irregular migration and trafficking.

Ms Dansua said henceforth legislations such as Human Trafficking Act, Criminal Code Amendment Act, international protocols and treaties on protection of children would be strictly enforced to prosecute offenders.

She said MOWAC had been collaborating with development partners and security agencies to create and increase awareness on the trafficking of children to ensure its elimination.