Students debate commercial sex exploitation of children

Accra, May 20, GNA - Holy Trinity Cathedral Secondary School (HOTCASS) on Friday emerged the winner of a debate hosted by International Needs, Ghana, on the creation of awareness on the need to halt child prostitution in the country.

HOTCASS bagged 201 points to win the keenly contested debate for four second cycle institutions in the Accra Metropolitan Area. The debate, which lasted four hours was on the topic, "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children."

The other schools that participated were the Saint Mary's Secondary School, La Presbyterian Secondary Schools and the Sacred Heart Technical Institute.

The students spoke for or against the motion as to weather or not society was to be blamed for child prostitution in the country. While St. Mary's and the Sacred Heart blamed the problem on societal neglect of children, negative media publications, lack of sex education at home, fashion, effect of rape, HOTCASS and La Presec said children were to take the greater portion of blame for their negative actions.

Nii Tetteh Adjabeng, Atukpai Mantse, appealed to all traditional leaders to wage war against child prostitution in their traditional areas.

He further called for the strengthening and restructuring of various cultural structures to attract the youth.