Oye Lithur Talks Tough: No More Trafficking Via Child Adoption

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has said it would consider the implementation of the Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoption.

The Convention would establish safeguards to ensure that inter-country adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognized by International law.

It would also establish a system of co-operation amongst Contracting Nations to ensure that abduction and sale trafficking of children is prevented.

The Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur made this known when the U.S Ambassador to Ghana Gene A. Cretz paid a courtesy call on her at the Ministry on Wednesday.

According to her, this would help curb child trafficking under the guise of Child adoption.

She noted “we need to be able to have a better system so that it doesn't get to that because it seems that when it gets to the court, once there is a social enquiry report and once the conditions are satisfied under the law it is a fair accompany and there is a need for us to look at that.”

According to her, “the orphanage is another issue that we need to look at, better regulation, more stream lining of the orphanage because it ties in with the trafficking issues.”

She explained “I am happy we have the three departments because then we can ensure that we have some of the social intervention programs in some of the areas where the children who are trafficked originate from the Coastal areas.

Meanwhile the U.S Ambassador Gene A. Cretz stated that the United States would help the Ministry achieve its aims and objectives.