The Foreign Minister has announced moves by government to regulate how Ghanaians go into the Gulf countries to work.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told journalists at a press meeting Tuesday that the Ministry is working to establish a legal framework that will regulate the activities of such migrants.

This, according to her would address the cases of abuse of Ghanaians who travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and other countries in the region to work.

Ayorkor Botchwey said the framework involves agreements between Ghana and the countries in how domestic workers recruitment and others are carried out.

Listen to her speak at the press conference:

In 2017 a chilling report by Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey chronicled the ordeals of Ghanaian girls in the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia who are allegedly raped, forced into prostitution and subjected to physical abuse.

Harrowing reports have also claimed that lots of vulnerable Ghanaian girls have been trafficked into the Gulf and forced into sex trade.

Related: Immigration Service rescues 150 trafficked girls

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in 2017 said rescued 150 girls who were being trafficked through various unapproved routes.

Former Deputy Head of Mission to Saudi Arabia, Hawawu Boya Gariba, lent credence to speculations that government heavyweights and influential persons in society are behind the trafficking of young Ghanaian girls to the Gulf states.

She told Joy News that although she would not mention names, trafficking of girls to the Gulf States, many of whom are abused, have been difficult to fight due to the involvement of these influential persons.

“If you hear the names that go into this kind of business, you will be shocked. I cannot mention names now. But if you hear the type of big names that are involved in this thing you will not respect them again,” she said.

But Madam Ayorkor Botchwey assured that the issue will soon be addressed comprehensively as draft agreements have been exchanged with some of the countries already.