The Minister for Women and Children Affairs has called on Law Enforcement Officials at the nation’s borders to be more vigilant in preventing and arresting human traffickers. Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah says all officials and stakeholders engaged in combating human trafficking should facilitate the implementation of the Human Trafficking Act 2005 (Act 694). Speaking in a speech read on her behalf at the closing of a training workshop on Human Trafficking in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua, Juliana Azumah Mensah said the fight against Human Trafficking need concerted effort from Law Enforcement Officials especially the Navy, Immigration, CEPS and the Police. She noted that the nation’s internal and international rivers and lakes as well as coastal borders, have been identified as some of the means for trafficking and irregular migration, especially the phenomenon of stow-away. Julain Azumah Mensah said Trafficking and Irregular Migration from Ghana to other countries need additional efforts from all stakeholders in averting it, and promoting the benefits of regular migration. She expressed the hope that officials would be able to use the expertise gained at the training programme to effectively prevent, suppress and punish offenders of human trafficking while rescuing victims of trafficking, protecting, rehabilitating and reintegrating them into the society. Some of the Law Enforcement Officials who took part in the workshop said they have received adequate information on the Human Traffic Act, Child Trafficking Act and related International Protocols. Some of the officials said the training would guide them on how to identify and investigate human trafficking, and prosecute offenders while partnering with other Law Enforcement Agencies. So far the ministry of Women and Children Affairs have coordinated the training of about One Hundred and Fifteen (115) law enforcement officials, organised by the International Organization. Credit: Benjamin Henaku