Walewale (NR), Dec. 13, GNA - Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs on Tuesday said trafficking of persons was fast growing in Ghana leading to the loss of human resource needed for the country's development.

She said: "Ghana serves as a supplier, receiver, and transit point of human trafficking especially children, from the three Northern regions to neighbouring countries and within parts of the country". Hajia Alima Mahama was speaking at the President's end-of-year party for children at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District.

She said through the efforts of the sector Ministry about 100 children were recently rescued from the District, while the trafficker was arrested in the Koforidua Municipality.

She therefore called on the security personnel to be vigilant, especially with the approach of Christmas.

The Minister said the Children's Act 694 of 2005, which among other provisions prohibits the trafficking of children, must be enforced to help stem the phenomenon and called for stiffer punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.

About 1,000 takeaways and souvenirs worth 70 million cedis were given to the children, while the Wulugu Orphanage received a donation of five bags of rice, two bags of maize, and 10 pieces of mattresses.

Hajia Mahama said in its quest to create an enabling environment for the protection and development of children, the government had been promoting good governance through constitutional rule, the rule of law, due process of the law, pluralistic media and the overall consolidation of democracy.

The Minister noted that the District was one the major transit points in the country for "kayayee" and called on the traditional authorities, parents, districts assemblies and the communities at large to partner with the Ministry to combat the menace.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister asked the children to be well behaved, concentrate on their studies and obey their teachers, parents and the community so that they would grow to become good and responsible citizens.

The West Mamprusi District Chief Executive, Mr Nabla Sulemana, called on parents to invest in the education of their wards to complement the efforts of the government to improve the standard of education in the country.