Child trafficking at Akateng

Akateng (E/R), June 9, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MWCA) has identified Akateng, a fishing community in the Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region, as a child trafficking zone. Mr Andrews Kwesi Teye, the District Chief Executive, who made this known on Tuesday, at a ceremony to outdoor a new market valued at 584.4-million-cedi for the community said, many children of school going-age were being exploited as child labourers.

He called for measures to save the children from the influence of anti-social activities such as armed robbery that had rocked the town. The market, constructed under the Village Infrastructure Programme (VIP), comprised four open sheds, two stalls and a warehouse. Mr Teye, said, the District Assembly in collaboration with the MWCA would collect data on the children, and guarantee their total integration into society.

He expressed the hope that the Akateng market would increase the revenue of the District Assembly.

Mr Gustav Narh Dometey, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, who outdoored the market, said, it was another step towards poverty reduction and asked the traders to justify the huge capital investment through regular maintenance of the structures.

Mr Dometey, called on the political parties to ensure peace and stability during the electioneering campaigns: "Since the peace and stability of the country is more important than the political ambition of any individual or group."

He asked the people to embrace the President's Special Initiative on Cassava and the National Health Insurance Scheme to help eradicate poverty in the area.