On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) held the media launch for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, also known as Blue Day.
The event, themed “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” focused on honoring the UN Day Against Human Trafficking scheduled for July 30, 2024.
The media launch aimed to bolster Ghana’s efforts in raising awareness about the dangers of all forms of exploitation.
In her address, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director of MoGCSP, highlighted the importance of child protection and inclusion, noting that the Ministry is mandated by Regulation 7 of the Human Trafficking Legislative Instrument to educate the public on human trafficking issues.
She stressed the need for enhanced awareness and community sensitization to combat this menace.
Dr. Zakariah expressed gratitude to sponsors for their support in the fight against human trafficking and urged everyone to join the campaign to eliminate exploitation.
Stakeholders at the event called for continuous enforcement of laws to prevent child trafficking, prosecute offenders, and provide comprehensive support services for survivors.
As part of the launch, inter-school debates were held on the topic of human trafficking. Tesano 1 Junior High School (JHS) and Accra Academy Senior High School (SHS) emerged victorious in the debates for 1st Cycle and 2nd Cycle Schools, respectively.
The winning schools received a plaque, a computer, and 100 exercise books. Tesano JHS defeated Police Depot JHS with a score of 74.6, while Accra Academy SHS beat Odorgonno SHS with a score of 91.