Bolgatanga, Aug 3, GNA - The Upper East Regional Police Command has sent warning to all public transport drivers in the region to desist from picking minors unaccompanied by their parents to the south.

This was contained in a statement signed by Police Chief Inspector Thomas Agbanyo, Public Relations Officer, in Bolgatanga. The statement said the Police were alert to check all vehicles en route to the south and would impound any vehicle caught with minors on board.

It said the youth migrated when they go on holidays and and warning to desist from the practice had fallen on deaf years. "A meeting convened between the security services in conjunction with the Regional Coordinating Council and the Transport Unions, drivers and stakeholders to warn the youth in the migration process have fallen on deaf ears and drivers especially continue to pick the minors down south," the statement said. It said The Anti Human Trafficking Unit of The Upper East Regional Police Service on July 26 intercepted a Kumasi bound passenger bus carrying 29 minors whose ages ranged between nine and 15, most of them from the Talensi/Nabdam District. The children claimed they were going to the south for jobs to earn money to buy school sandals, bags and other school materials and money to pay their fees.