The International Justice Mission (IJM), in collaboration with the Dutch Government, has commissioned an Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Goaso in the Ahafo Region and provided training for personnel of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to strengthen efforts to combat child labour and human trafficking.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing the capacity of law enforcement officers to identify, investigate and prosecute cases of child labour and human trafficking, particularly in cocoa-growing and mining communities where such practices remain a challenge.
Speaking to Adom News, the Project Manager for IJM Ghana, Gabriel Acolatsey, said child labour continues to be a major concern in agricultural and cocoa-producing areas across the country, including the Ahafo Region.
He explained that the training programme was designed to provide officers with in-depth knowledge on child labour issues and equip them with the necessary skills to effectively handle related cases.
According to Mr. Acolatsey, IJM and the Dutch Government have also supported the region with a fully furnished Anti-Human Trafficking Office and a motorbike to facilitate the work of the unit.
“We believe that for the police to work efficiently in the fight against child labour and human trafficking, they must be adequately equipped and resourced,” he stated.
The Ahafo Regional Police Commander, DCOP James Annor, welcomed the intervention, noting that the region records pockets of child labour cases due to its status as a major cocoa-growing and mining area.
He described the support from IJM and the Dutch Government as timely, saying the training and the establishment of the unit would significantly improve the police service’s ability to address the menace.
“The education provided and the availability of a dedicated office will play a major role in helping the police effectively fight child labour and human trafficking in the region,” he said.
Also speaking to Adom News, Peter Dadzie of the Policy Office of Cocoa and Business Development said child labour and human trafficking pose a serious threat to society and the sustainability of the cocoa sector.
He stressed the need for all stakeholders to join the fight against the practice, warning that failure to address the issue could have severe consequences for the country’s development.
Mr. Dadzie called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, traditional authorities and local communities to protect children and eliminate child exploitation in all its forms.
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