The Western region minister nominee says he would work as a collaborator and enabler with the Gender Ministry to fight the child prostitution menace in the region.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie said although he has ideas on how to fight the teething problem in the region, he would fuse his ideas with the Gender and Social Protection ministry to find a lasting solution.

The former minister of Lands, Mines and Forestry in President John Kufuor’s government said "I don't submit to any moral thing but that aspect about diseases is my concern."

Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western region, now called the oil city of Ghana, is experiencing a surge in child prostitution.

Activists say the menace has increased since the Jubilee oil find, with girls being drawn in from other parts of the country and other West African countries.

The Department of Children has been working in collaboration with the Social Services Sub-committee of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to sensitise schools and committees on the need for parents to look after their children.

There have been consistent radio talk shows, sensitisation visits to the communities and schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis as well as drawing attention to the dangers of child neglect and prostitution are going on vigorously to fight the canker.

The security agencies, in collaboration with stakeholders of child rights and care organisations, have also been engaged to undertake periodic swoops to minimize the menace.

The Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli II who has been commenting on child prostitution has attributed the problem partly to parents shirking their responsibilities. 

Awulae Amihere, whose traditional capital is Atuabo in the Western Region, believes in the maxim 'Do things within your limit' and 'Better do one thing right than do many things wrong'.

He advocated stiffer punishment in the Children's Act towards irresponsible parenting and wished the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies could enact stiffer by-laws or sanctions on those who abuse and neglect children.

To solve the issue, Dr Afriyie told Parliament’s Appointments Committee Tuesday that once the Gender Ministry rolls out its programmes relating to the issue, he would ensure they are quickly implemented in the region to curb the problem.