Accra (Greater Accra) – Ghana has been identified as one of the transit routes for child trafficking in the West African sub-region where the trade is said to be on the ascendancy.
Mrs Margaret Sackey Acting Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) said the commission is collaborating with security agencies and other stakeholders to clamp down on traffickers operating along Ghanaian borders.
At a ceremony in Accra to commemorate the Day of the African Child, which falls on Friday, Mrs Sackey said child labour has been identified as one of the problems, undermining child survival and development.
Organised by the Commission and the UN’s systems in conjunction with other organisations, the day was set aside by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1991 to mark the brutal massacre of children in Soweto, South Africa during the apartheid regime.
In Ghana, the day is being marked with calls to redouble efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention, especially, among the youth.
“Using of children for hazardous labour, such as oyster fishing in Ghana, is an area which has to be tackled to reduce the incidence of deaths among children.”
The acting Executive Secretary said, even though, tremendous progress has been made in child health in terms of immunisation and reduction of mortality rate, HIV/AIDS is proving a formidable threat.
Professor Patrick Addy, deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said HIV/AIDS is a “nation wrecker” and must not be allowed to go unchecked.
Citing examples in Uganda, where the disease has affected almost every single household, he said HIV/AIDS must not be allowed to erode the gains made in Ghana’s development.
Madam Margaret Novicki, Director of UN Information Centre, said the day, has been dedicated to a “UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan “
This, is in recognition of the excellent and timely intervention, by the UN in the fields of HIV/AIDS prevention and the search for a potent vaccine and efficacious drugs.
She advised children to be messengers of AIDS awareness by spreading the message to friends, teachers and parents.
