Accra prostitutes to be trained

The African Enterprise, an interdenominational non-racial international mission is to recruit 50 commercial sex workers in Accra for training in employable skills to enable them to earn decent living.

The Reverend Dr. Nii Amoo Darku, International Team Leader in Ghana, in an interview with the GNA on Monday said the exercise was aimed at giving the prostitutes gainful employment, rehabilitating them and ensuring that they accepted the value and dignity of man as the true image of God.

He said those who would willingly abandon the trade, live moral lives, and undergo training in vocations of their choices would be given funds and equipment to start life.

Rev. Dr. Darku said the prostitutes would be expected to undergo medical examination and counselling before accommodating them at one place for the exercise.

He appealed to interested commercial sex workers to visit the mission's office at Avenor, near Caprice in Accra for assistance.

Rev. Dr. Darku said the first phase of the programme ended in Kumasi and 16 prostitutes who acquired vocational skills were given tools and 1.7 million cedis each to begin work.

Rev. Dr. Darku stated that while some were now gainfully employed and looking after their families, others who were single were happily married.

He said: " Most of these prostitutes you see on our streets hate what they do, some even wish they could stop but because they don't have what to eat they remain in the trade."

Rev. Dr Darku asked Ghanaians to change the negative perception about prostitutes and instead initiate concrete measures aimed at rehabilitating and integrating them into the society.

He also requested philanthropists, religious bodies, non-governmental organisations and financial institutions to collaborate with the African Enterprise in rehabilitating the prostitutes.

Rev. Dr Darku said so far the mission has assisted 200 street children to acquire employable skills.

Currently, more than 100 poor and needy children were undertaking training in tailoring, dressmaking, hairdressing, carpentry, masonry and catering in Tema and Ho.