The Oti Regional Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the International Justice Mission and the Krachi East Municipal Social Welfare Office have arrested six suspects for their alleged roles in the recruitment and exploitation of minors.
The special operation, which took place in two fishing communities in the municipality, namely Scalen and Njare became possible as a result of the information provided to the police with support of the other institutions to effect the arrest of the suspects.
The Oti Regional Public Affairs Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), John Nchor, said on June 18, 2021 a report was made to the police at Dambai that three victims between the ages of eight and twelve years had been rescued at Scalen near the regional capital and the police followed the tip-off to the community.
ASP Nchor said the police arrested Michael Amedzeke, 24, as the suspect who trafficked the children from Battor in the Volta region to engage in fishing activities, stressing that the suspect is currently assisting the police in their investigations.
He continued that the police also rescued three minors, aged thirteen and sixteen years at Njare on June 21, 2021 and three suspects, Kofi Homekey, 48 Samuel Womumawu, 36 and NtenimBoanyi, 26, were arrested for their suspected roles in the recruitment, trafficking and exploitation of the victims from Dawa near Abotoase in the Volta region.
ASP Nchor said two persons suspected to be the brain behind the trafficking in the community namely;MawukoAnagli, 73 and Hamond TeyeAmetefe, 36, were arrested and all the suspects would be arraigned before the Jasikan Circuit Court.
The Chief of the Ewe community at Dambai, TogbeKpatalidza, who commended the efforts of the police and other stakeholders in arresting the suspects, said the practice was very unfortunate. According to him, parents are deceived by the suspects that the children will be sent to school when they are been recruited.
TogbeKpatalidza noted that in most cases, some of the parents who gave their children out normally collect one cow for one year period that the children will stay with the suspects without knowing that the children are going to be used in fishing activities.
He regretted that the children, in most of the cases, do not even know their parents because they were taken away at the age three.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS