Child Rights International (CRI), an Accra-based international non-governmental organisation, has threatened to institute legal action against the government if it fails to investigate the circumstances leading to the release of 45 child sex workers from the shelter of the Department of Social Welfare at Madina in Accra. The investigation will bring to the fore those responsible for the release for them to be punished accordingly, CRI said at a news conference yesterday. It said the premature release of the children has denied them counselling, protection, maintenance and the opportunity to learn a trade instead of practising prostitution. Bright Appiah, Executive Director of CRI, speaking on behalf of the organisation, deplored the blame game by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare on the issue, saying that the lives of the children have been put at risk. Mr. Appiah called for the re-arrest of the children so that they can be given proper counselling and re-integrated into society. He described the issue as serious because the objective of rescuing the children from prostitution to better their lives had failed. "Why should journalists, and policemen risk their lives, and other state institutions use the taxpayers' money on such operation, only for the key suspects to be released,” they questioned. Source: The Ghanaian Times