Ten girls rescued in Ghana will be rehabilitated by NAPTIP and the Ministry of Women

The ten young Nigerian girls, some of whom are minors, recently rescued from Ghana, must be rehabilitated. The program under which their rehabilitation is to be carried out is the first under a partnership between the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Federal Ministry of Women's Affairs.

The partnership is established to combat human trafficking and for the long-term rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking. A statement signed by Adekoye Vincent, Communications Officer of NAPTIP indicated that this partnership was one of the outcomes of the visit of the Honorable Minister of Women, Hon. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, at NAPTIP headquarters on Monday. The visit followed viral reports of some Nigerian girls being trafficked to Ghana for sexual exploitation.

Prof. Fatima Waziri – Azi, Director General of NAPTIP, speaking to journalists after the meeting, thanked the honorable minister for the visit and her support for the sustainable fight against human trafficking, adding that the Agency has been very proactive, strategic and deliberate in the execution of its warrants leading to the conviction of 29 human traffickers from January 2024 to date, 67 traffickers in 2023, 80 in 2022 and a total of 670 human trafficking convictions since the Agency's inception, including the rescue of more than 23,000 victims.

She said: “While the government plays a major role in combating human trafficking, communities and families have an even more important role in combating these issues. Regarding girls in Ghana, we are in contact with the Ghana Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The girls were rescued and are safe. The perpetrator has been arrested and I am also in contact with the Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). I am very happy with the visit of the Honorable Minister this morning. From our conversation, we will definitely approach this issue in a more strategic way, in terms of prevention. Prevention is better than cure.”

As a warning to ambitious young Nigerians and their families, Prof Waziri said: “I also want to emphasize to parents and young people that there is no free lunch anywhere; if it's free, then you are definitely the product. We know that everyone wants a better life, but wanting a better life doesn't mean you can't use discernment. When someone comes to offer you the Eldorado, ask questions.

Hon. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, earlier commended NAPTIP for its visible impact in combating human trafficking in Nigeria and promised to partner with the Agency for the Sustainable Rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking through the existing empowerment program that has been established by the ministry.

She said: “I came here to see my sister about the problem of Nigerian girls being trafficked to Ghana. We will partner with NAPTIP to empower them, give them skills or send them to school.”

Kennedy-Ohanenye revealed the ministry's plans to embark on massive advocacy with various stakeholders including commercial transport company operators, the aviation sector, the maritime sector and a cross-section of parents across the country, adding that parents and transport operators will be held responsible. if he is convicted of child trafficking. She seeks the support and cooperation of all Nigerians to combat the problems of human trafficking in the country.

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