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A signing ceremony of the Anti-Child Labour and Trafficking Strategy Document for the Fisheries sector took place in Accra on Wednesday.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Hon Elizabeth Afoley Quaye appended her signature to the document on behalf of the Ministry whilst Mr Christopher J. Lamora Acting US Ambassador and Charge d' Affairs of the US Embassy in Ghana signed for the Embassy.

In her address Hon Elizabeth Afoley Quaye said the Strategy document represents a consensus of stakeholders views on how Child Labour and Trafficking ( CLaT) in the Fisheries Sector could be effectively dealt with in the country through specific strategies including child rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and prevention.

Other strategies contained in the document, according to the Minister are community awareness raising on the issue and behaviour change communication, improved investigation and prosecution of offenders and overall institutional strengthening and capacity building.

She expressed gratitude to the US Embassy and other partners for their support for the preparation of the strategy document and said the Ministry will work harder together with its partners to combat child labour and trafficking in the fisheries sector.

The minister later spoke to Peace FM in an interview.

Mr Christopher J. Lamora Acting US Ambassador and Charge d' Affairs of the US Embassy in Ghana noted that Ghana's fishing industry is deeply entrenched with child labour which has negative impact on the future of the affected children as many quit school to work as fishers.

He hoped the implementation of the strategies contained in the document will help fight the menace.

Supt Mike Baah Head of Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service disclosed that thirteen (13 ) persons have so far been convicted this year for engaging their children in child labour whilst three (3) people have also been convicted this year for engaging in human trafficking.

According to Supt Baah, four persons were convicted in 2017 for child labour offences whilst 339 trafficked persons were rescued by the Police upon tip off. He said 190 out of those who were rescued were children of which many were engaged in fishing.

Mr Leonard Ackon Director of Advocacy for International Justice Mission urged government to make adequate budgetary allocation for the implementation of the Anti Child Labour and Trafficking Strategy document for the fisheries sector to achieve results.