Minister Commends ILO/IPEC For Good Work

The Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Hon Alima Mahama, has commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) on their efforts and successes in combating the trafficking of children for labour exploitation in Ghana.

According to her, the ILO/IPEC project, which was implemented to combat child trafficking for labour exploitation in Ghana, showcased a lot of proactive changes in the fight against trafficking and is relevant to combating child trafficking, especially, given the alarming rate at which the phenomenon is becoming common.

The Minister made these remarks in an address read on her behalf by the Chief Director of Ministry, Mr. Kojo Amoakwa at a workshop organised by ILO/IPEC/ LUTRENA in Accra today.

Hon Alima informed participants that the Human Trafficking Act (Act 694) is now operational and in line with its mandate, the Ministry has undertaken some advocacy programmes to educate and sensitise the general public on the contents of the Act.

The National Programme Co-ordinator of ILO, Mr. Matthew Dally, informed participants that the ILO/IPEC project to combat the trafficking of children for labour is a multi-donor funded project covering (12) twelve countries, including Ghana in West and Central Africa.

During the opening ceremony, Mr Matthew Dally donated 'Awareness creating' materials including 5,000 posters on Human Trafficking Act, Video clips on child trafficking and brochures on the multi-lateral agreement on child trafficking by West African countries to help them execute their duties to the Ministry. This, he said, will aid them in fighting child trafficking in Ghana.

Participants of the workshop were from security agencies including the Immigration Service and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service.