Editorial
Human trafficking is menace, let’s eliminate it!
Last week The Spectator carried a story on four Nigerians who were jailed by an Accra Circuit Court for human trafficking.
According to the report the perpetrators promised to secure jobs for their victims in Ghana but unknown to them (the victims) upon arrival in Ghana from Nigeria they were compelled to engage in sex trade.
The perpetrators demanded huge sums of money from the victims before they could gain their freedom but the timely intervention of a “Good Samaritan” led to the arrest of the perpetrators who were later jailed in hard labour.
Human trafficking is a menace in society as it is associated with sexual exploitation, servitude, starvation, depression, fear and trauma among others on victims.
Most often unsuspecting victims, especially young girls, are recruited by friends or even relatives who act as agents under the disguise of securing jobs for them within or outside the country but unfortunately, show them the ‘red card’ as they reach their destination.
Some are issued with threats, forced into domestic servitude and subjected to all forms of abuses to the detriment of their health.
Recently, some Ghanaian victims of human trafficking shared their harrowing experiences of the inhumane treatment meted to them by their hosts after they were rescued and returned to the country.
In fact, the frequent reports of cases of human trafficking is so disturbing and the earlier it is nipped in the bud the better.
The Spectator, therefore, welcomes the Government’s initiative to launch a four-year National Action Plan which will provide guidelines to deal with the menace. The National Action Plan was launched by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) recently.
In the words of the Caretaker Minister of MoGCSP, Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah “despite the many interventions instituted by the government to fight human trafficking, the practice was still prevalent.”
Ms. Dapaah also explained that the National Action Plan was necessary because although numerous laws have been enacted to curb human trafficking the practice still persisted.
It is obvious that the country cannot get rid of human trafficking with only laws; rather a concerted effort is needed to eliminate it.
Let us be vigilant and give a hint or report any hidden case of human trafficking to the appropriate authorities to bring perpetrators to book.
We all need to raise awareness and join the fight against human trafficking.
Editorial
Rising cost of renting in Accra worrying
Dear Editor,
It is the dream of every young adult to build and live in his or her own apartment or house and not become a tenant in another person’s house. However, such a dream looks far from becoming a reality when one considers the amount to pay to rent an apartment in the capital.
The situation has even become unbearable as the wages of most employed individuals are way lower what landlords charge.
As a young man who is not married, I always imagine getting married and live in a rented apartment with my family, and having to also pay for utility and other basic needs. That alone scares me about marriage.
In Accra, landlords take as much as GHȻ700.00 a month for an apartment with toilets and bathrooms, while some even take the same amount for single rooms without toilets and baths.
Also, one has to sometimes deal with the issue of individuals who are referred to as ‘agents’ when trying to find an apartment to rent. These agents even take monies and don’t even get their clients the type of houses they want.
We can not allow this to continue as most landlords and agents continue to extort monies from their tenants by ‘unreasonably’ increasing house rents on a monthly and yearly basis, thereby putting pressure on them.
I would like to urge the government to have a look at the rent control system of the country to ensure that tenants are not taken advantage of by landlords.
I have also seen young guys and ladies who try to move away from family houses and rent apartments because they want some privacy. My advice to such youngsters is that renting an apartment is not an easy thing, especially when you are not earning much. It is better to stay in the family house and rather save enough to get their own houses.
This is an area of concern government must take a look at and do something about it.
Atom,
Sukura
Editorial
Don’t prophesy to cause fear and panic
Dear Editor,
Curtains on the year 2024, is gradually drawing to close, with many, achieving their dreams while others hope for a better 2025.
Amidst this, churches have planned their watch night services with various themes for the night hoping to give Christians and Ghanaians at large a chance to enter the New Year with optimism.
At the service, there will prophecies or predictions for the coming year, with some causing fear and panic among the populace.
In the year 2021, the Ghana Police Service banned prophecies during 31st night services, also known as watch night services.
Such prophecies, according to the police has caused fear and panic among targeted persons
It seems churches and their leaders have forgotten about this ban, I wish to call in the police to remind the churches to enforce the ban which were mostly about the death of prominent persons in the society.
I believe this will again bring sanity into the Christianity and the society at whole
