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14.05.2009 General News

MOWAC to set up prostitution task force

14.05.2009 LISTEN
By The Statesman

The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs has threatened to set up a task force to roam in identifiable child prostitution centers and arrest men who patronise the services of minors.

In addition to this, the ministry also plans to close down all such centers which have already been identified like the popular 'Soldier Bar' near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and all other centers dotted in and around the city of Accra.

Speaking at her turn of the ministerial meet the press series in Accra, the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Akua Sena Dansua indicated that, the issue of child prostitution has taken a national dimension hence there is the need for all stake holders no matter their political background to help in fighting the menace.

Adding to her statement, she make mention of the child trafficking in the cities where children between 13 and 18 years migrate from the north to the south to look for greener pastures. This is where the girls engage themselves in prostitution to survive.

According to Ms Dansua, the ministry's main concern about women and children are issues relate to their survival, growth, development and protection in the national development process so as to improve the social, political, economic and cultural conditions of the people of Ghana, particularly women and children.

She indicated further that the Ministry will strive to improve the conditions of the most vulnerable women in the society, actively promote gender equality and equity and place emphasis on women's rights and participation in decision making processes at all levels.

On the other hand, she stressed that, public education against negative socio-cultural practices that discriminate against women will be intensified while legislations will be enacted to safeguard the dignity of women and create conditions to propel their advancement.

In the short term, the ministry will promote gender responsive budgeting in 17 MDAs through capacity building and also enhance decision making based on gender equality through women's empowerment, by collecting gender and sex-disaggregated data in 10 districts.

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