Cases of child trafficking and child abuse are said to be increasing at an alarming rate in Domeabra-Obom constituency of Ga South Municipality due to high illiteracy and poverty among residents.

Residents, who are predominantly farmers, are mostly poor with a lot of dependents to cater and this compels them to adopt crude means of making livelihood. Many children abandon school for sand winning, quarrying and “okada”.

Mr. Pius Fiakuna, assembly member for Kofi Kwei Electoral Area, told the GNA in an interview that the level of illiteracy and poverty was so high that parents and families found it difficult to support their children in school compelling some of them to give out their children as house helps and baby sitters in the cities.

He said three out of five children who were trafficked to Yeji and some fishing communities in the Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions about two years ago had been rescued and brought back to the area.

“These are children between the ages of 4 and 10 years who should have been in school”, he added.