As the government of Ghana is working assiduously with its stakeholders to clamp down on Trafficking In Persons which is posing a serious threat to national development; there are some unscrupulous people also working in a clandestine way to thwart government’s effort.
Information reaching the corridors of NewsGhana indicates that, as the Pilgrims are preparing to embark on a Holy Journey to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, some people are also taking advantage of the Journey to recruit young Ghanaian women for domestic service or hospitality industry jobs in Gulf countries.
Already, in Ghana, there are about three hundred (300) illegal agencies operating. These illegal migration operators are causing harm through reckless illegal scams in the country.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Foundation, Mr. Jones Owusu Yeboah, who divulged this information to this reporter, frowned at the menace; saying that they have concrete evidence which clearly shows that some Pilgrims are into this heinous business as they are preparing to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“This Holy Journey is purposely meant for prayers; not to traffic people”, he stated.
He has therefore called on the Hajj Board, under Chairmanship of Sheikh I.C .Quaye to swiftly take action to investigate every Pilgrim in order to discourage those scheming to perpetrate this atrocious crime.
Sadly, these Ghanaian women and children are then recruited and sent to the Middle East, West Africa, and Europe for forced labor and sex trafficking
After their return, many of them reported being deceived, overworked, starved, abused, molested, and/or forced into prostitution.
According to him, SEWA Foundation will work closely with all the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Services and other stakeholders to clamp –down on the menace before it skyrocketed.
Already, Ghana has been ranked as a tier 2 watch-list country. Ghana’s status on the Tier 2 watch –list means that, it does not fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s(TVPA) minimum standards , but is making significant efforts to meet those standards.
More so, United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and established a UN Voluntary Trust fund for victims of trafficking, particularly women and children, who make up 75 per cent of all victims.
SEWA Foundation is a non-governmental organization committed to the eradication of human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Focused on contributing to the reduction of the causes of child trafficking and child slavery. They operate in the areas of anti-human trafficking, anti-human smuggling, prevention of child abuse and child labour in Ghana.
By: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/NewsGhana.com.gh