Minister partners with NAPTIP to rehabilitate girls trafficked to Ghana

On By Rgal Nv

The fight against human trafficking led by the federal government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has received a significant boost.

The Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has entered into a partnership with the Agency for the Long-Term Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking. Specifically, the ministry and NAPTIP are to jointly rehabilitate the 10 Nigerian girls, victims of human trafficking, recently rescued in Ghana.

This partnership was one of the outcomes of the visit of the Minister for Women, Hon. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, at NAPTIP headquarters yesterday. The visit followed viral reports of some Nigerian girls being trafficked to Ghana for sexual exploitation.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, thanked the Minister for her visit and her support in maintaining the fight against human trafficking, adding that the Agency was very proactive, strategic and deliberate. in the execution of its mandates, which led to the conviction of 29 human traffickers from January 2024 to date, 67 traffickers in 2023, 80 in 2022 and a total of 670 convictions for human trafficking human beings since the Agency’s inception, including the rescue of more than 23,000 victims.

Professor Waziri-Azi said: “While the government plays a major role in combating human trafficking, communities and families have an even more important role in combating these issues. Regarding girls in Ghana, we are in contact with the Ghana Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.

“The girls were rescued and are safe. The perpetrator has been arrested and I am also in contact with the Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). I am very happy with the visit of the Honorable Minister this morning.

From our conversation, we will certainly approach this issue in a more strategic way, in terms of prevention. “Prevention is better than cure.” She added: “I also want to emphasize to parents and young people that there is nothing free anywhere; if it is free, then you are definitely the product.

We know that everyone wants a better life, but wanting a better life doesn’t mean you can’t use discernment. When someone comes to offer you the Eldorado, ask questions.

Also speaking, Minister of Women and Social Development, Hon. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye commended NAPTIP for its visible impact in combating human trafficking in Nigeria and promised to partner with the Agency for the Sustainable Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking through the program existing empowerment framework that has been established by the ministry.

The minister said: “I came here to see my sister regarding the issue of Nigerian girls being trafficked to Ghana. We will partner with NAPTIP to empower them, give them skills or send them to school.”