Sixteen people suspected of trafficking the children were arrested and are currently on police enquiry bail assisting with investigations.

The rescued children whose ages range between seven and 16 years are currently being sheltered and are undergoing counselling, medical screening and rehabilitation.

The rescue exercise was jointly organised by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, (AHTU) at the Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) Headquarters, the Marine Police Unit, Eastern Regional Police Command in collaboration with International Justice Mission,(IJM) and the ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Briefing The Ghanaian Times, the Director-General of the CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bright Oduro said the exercise which took place January 24, 2017, was in line with the police administration’s collaborative effort to end child trafficking and forced labour on the Volta lake and other parts of the country.

According to the CID Director-General, human trafficking was an offence under the Human Traffic Act, 2005 (Act 694).

He advised the public especially parents that human trafficking was an offence  and urged them not to allow their children to be trafficked or sold into forced labour  for monetary gains.

“Parents and guardians are cautioned to be wary of people and relatives who approach them for their children under the guise of helping to put them in schools in the cities,” he said.

Mr. Oduro called on community leaders not to entertain such acts but report any incident of child trafficking and forced labour to the police for swift action.

He said the police would continue to work with organisations and agencies to end child trafficking in Ghana through sensitisation, rescue operations, protection of victims and prosecution of offenders.

By Agnes Opoku Sarpong