The Phenomenon of Child TraffickingiIn Ghana: A Search for an Alternative Approach to its Resolution in Tapa Abotoase

Abstract

The practice of child trafficking is a condemnable act due to its negative impact that undermine the future prospects of children who are exploited for forced labour. This practice, not only hinders children from realizing their full potentials, but has the capability to deny children of formal education. Unfortunately, Tapa Abotoase is one community in the Oti Region noted for this dehumanizing act. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenon of child trafficking in Tapa Abotoase, as well as the possibility of using moral interventions as alternative approaches to its resolution. To achieve this purpose, the following objectives were curated; examination of the factors influencing child trafficking, information on how trafficked children in Abotoase were handled by their masters and mistresses, the methods for stopping child trafficking in Ghana, especially the fishing industry vis a vis the existing resolutions and moral interventions that can be explored to help curb the issue of child trafficking in Tapa Abotoase. The research took a qualitative approach with the preferred design being the case study. Twenty-eight key informants were purposively sampled to provide data for the study through semi-structured interviews. The economic disparity theory underpinned the study. Data was collected in the audio format, was transcribed and thematically analyzed to bring out the issues. Results showed that the causes of child trafficking in Abotoase ranged from economic to defective family ties. Trafficked children were transported to their place of servitude during festive occasions and were beaten and malnourished. Existing resolutions in the form of legal frameworks and donations by NGOs were found to be inadequate thus the impetus of this work which was to bring to light the moral dimensions revealed that appealing to the conscience of perpetrators on the dignity of human life had a tendency to put an end to this menace of child trafficking. Further, incorporating messages targeted at highlighting the effects of child trafficking by religious personalities during worship services in Abotoase to will help deter people from selling out children to traffickers. Moreover, social support groups including active engagement with community leaders should be prioritized to bring an end to this canker. Setting up small scale businesses so poor families can engage in and make a livelihood for themselves, penalization of perpetrators, and continuous public education were some of the recommendations the study came out with.