The ECOWAS queen mother and Queen mother of the Ghanaian community in Ivory Coast Nana Kyeremaa Abrefi Koto, has called on the President of Ghana to collaborate with the Ivorian President to address the pressing issue of human trafficking.
Her concern is centered around Ghanaian youth who are lured with promises of traveling to European countries through Ivory Coast, only to be held hostage and coerced into recruiting others upon arrival.
The situation is dire, with over 2,000 individuals affected despite Nana Kyeremaa’s efforts to raise awareness and report the issue to Ghanaian and Ivorian authorities.
She shared her concerns in an exclusive interview with 3news.com
“Some Ghanaians have been lured by false promises of being taken to Europe through Côte d’Ivoire. However, upon arrival, their documents and money are seized, and they are held captive elsewhere. This alarming issue has persisted despite collective efforts with the Ghana Embassy and Ivorian security agencies to address it. We’ve managed to arrest over 50 victims and perpetrators and discovered that around 30 people, both men and women, were forced to sleep in a single room. This heinous crime requires immediate attention from both the Ghanaian and Ivorian presidents to find a lasting solution.”
However, Nana Kyeremaa Abrefi Koto has called on Ghana’s parliament to launch a proactive campaign and publications to educate Ghanaian youths about the dangers of human trafficking. Specifically, she wants to raise awareness that it’s impossible to safely travel from Côte d’Ivoire to Europe, contrary to the false promises made by traffickers.
“Parliament should launch awareness campaigns and publications to educate Ghanaians about the dangers of human trafficking. Many are deceived by false promises of traveling to Europe via Côte d’Ivoire, only to be kidnapped, held hostage, and robbed of their belongings. It’s estimated that between 3,000 to 5,000 Ghanaians are being held captive, unable to return home or escape their traffickers.
This is a serious issue that requires immediate attention from both the Ghanaian and Ivorian governments. Collaboration is crucial to combat human trafficking. Although the immigration services have been informed and reports have been submitted, no action has been taken yet.” Nana Noted.
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Source:
3news.com
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