In a sobering revelation, it has been reported that more than 13,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse were accessed or uploaded from Ghana in the year 2020 alone.
The distressing statistics revealed during an extended regional child protection committee meeting held at the Regional Health Directorate in Kumasi, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive action to address the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography in the country.
The meeting, organized by the Ashanti Regional Department of Children in collaboration with key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, faith-based organizations, traditional authorities, and the media, sought to review the ratification of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Ghanaian Child. The gathering emphasized the collective responsibility to protect children and prevent abuse and violence against them.
During the meeting, Mr. Stephen Ofosu, the Regional Director of the Children’s Department, delivered a welcome address and outlined the objectives of the gathering. He stressed the importance of prioritizing child protection and urged the Ministry of Gender and the Department of Children to work diligently towards signing the optional protocol, thereby strengthening the legal framework for safeguarding children’s rights.
Dr. Sylvester Kye Gyamfi, in his presentation, highlighted that the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography not only violate the fundamental rights of children but also contravene Ghanaian laws, leading to various child rights violations. Disturbingly, anecdotal evidence indicates that these reprehensible acts are prevalent in the country, necessitating concerted efforts from the government, civil society, and families to combat them.
A study by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in 2021 revealed an alarming increase in the number of child sexual abuse images and videos accessed or uploaded from Ghana, rising from 750 in 2016 to more than 13,000 in 2020. Additionally, cases of child prostitution have been reported across various parts of the country.
The Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) Round 7 has revealed alarming statistics regarding child labour and multidimensional poverty in Ghana. Shockingly, one in every three children is engaged in child labour, while three in every four children experience multidimensional poverty.
These distressing figures highlight the urgent need for strengthened efforts to address the underlying factors contributing to these issues. If left unaddressed, Ghana faces an increased risk of higher prevalence rates of child trafficking, child prostitution, and child pornography.
Mr. Christopher Lartey, a principal programs officer, emphasized the importance of preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children during times of crisis, underscoring the need for immediate and effective humanitarian assistance in emergency situations caused by natural or man-made hazards.
Ms. Susana Dery, the Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, urged Ghanaian students to avoid taking and sharing explicit content, emphasizing the illegality and the vulnerability it creates for individuals to blackmail and exploitation.
Supt. Regina E. Mintah from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in the Ashanti region alerted parents to the potential exploitation of children, particularly when entrusted to taxi drivers for transportation to school.
She highlighted that child prostitution has expanded to include the use of mobile phones, where children can access websites for illicit purposes, urging parents to remain vigilant and protect their children from potential harm.
