<<Print>>

The church has been asked to take centre stage in the anti-human trafficking campaign, to end the modern day slavery.

Nana Ayimedu Brempong III, Krontihene of Adjena-Akwamu, said the church should use its tremendous influence with the people to discourage everybody from engaging in that act of human indignity.

He made the call at a day’s sensitization forum held in Kumasi to create awareness and highlight the dangers of human trafficking.

It was jointly organized by the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and the Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU).

Nana Brempong said the illegal movement of people for purposes of forced labor and commercial sex exploitation needed to stop.

He noted that this had become a lucrative business fetching criminal gangs millions of dollars annually.

These gangs, he added, were bent on using whatever means to perpetuate the illegality and asked the church to aid the people to be on the lookout.

They should be wary of media advertisements on job opportunities abroad because available records and experiences have shown that such adverts are used as bait to traffic innocent youth into domestic servitude.

He added “most of our young men and women who have travelled to countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the hope of seeking greener pastures have different stories to tell - ended up in virtual slavery”.

Nana Brempong, who has been at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking, announced that volunteers and the AHTU had rescued more than 100 people, who were being trafficked to the Gulf region, this year.

He urged strong support for the Anti-Human Trafficking Fund.

The Reverend Dr. Kofi Amfo-Akonnor, Chairperson of the Presbytery, promised to use the pulpit to educate people on the harmful effects of the illegal trade in humans.