Madina Police: No Tolerance for Child Labour, Trafficking at Madina Market

• Madina Divisional Police Command has launched a renewed crackdown on child labour and human trafficking at the Madina Market.
• The exercise will target the use of children for head-portering, or kayayei, to prevent exploitation and deprivation of education rights.
• Traders who engage school-going children in commercial activities risk arrest and prosecution under relevant laws.
• Human trafficking remains a criminal offence in Ghana, and those who engage in such activities will face consequences.
• Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Dr Sarah Aba-Afari, emphasized that 'Children must be in school,' and market operators have a responsibility to ensure minors are not engaged in their businesses.

The Madina Divisional Police Command's renewed crackdown on child labour and human trafficking at the Madina Market is a critical step towards safeguarding children and combating exploitation in Ghana. The practice of using children for head-portering, or kayayei, has long been a concern, with many school-going children being recruited from vulnerable communities to work in commercial activities. This not only deprives them of their right to education but also strips them of their rights and freedoms, perpetuating modern-day slavery. As the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Dr Sarah Aba-Afari, emphasized, 'Children must be in school,' and it is the responsibility of market operators to ensure that minors are not engaged in their businesses.

The intensified enforcement of child labour laws is a welcome development, particularly for lawyers advising clients operating at the Madina Market. It is essential for them to take steps to verify the age of all employees and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. This will not only help prevent exploitation but also protect their business from potential liabilities.

The Ghanaian government has been taking steps to combat human trafficking and child labour, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of these issues. The Madina Divisional Police Command's crackdown is part of broader efforts to safeguard children, tackle exploitation, and combat human trafficking within the Madina Market and its surrounding communities. Human trafficking remains a criminal offence in Ghana, and those who engage in such activities risk arrest and prosecution. The relevant laws will be strictly enforced, and individuals who recruit children for work at the market will face consequences.

The Kayayei practice, which involves using children as head-porters, is particularly concerning. It not only exploits children but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and deprivation. The Madina Divisional Police Commander's warning to traders who engage school-going children in commercial activities serves as a reminder that human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that must be eradicated.

The Madina Divisional Police Command has announced a renewed crackdown on child labour and human trafficking at the Madina Market. The exercise will target the use of children for head-portering, or kayayei, as part of efforts to prevent children from being exploited and deprived of their right to education. The Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Dr Sarah Aba-Afari, emphasized that traders who engage school-going children in commercial activities risk arrest, and the relevant laws will be strictly enforced.

The crackdown is not a new development, but rather an intensification of existing efforts to combat human trafficking and child labour. The Police have been enforcing laws against the practice, but this time they will do so more rigidly. As Commander Aba-Afari stated, 'The Ghanaian child must be protected,' and it is the responsibility of market operators to ensure that minors are not engaged in their businesses.

Lawyers advising clients operating at the Madina Market should be aware of the intensified enforcement of child labour laws and take steps to ensure compliance, including verifying the age of all employees.

Source: Original reporting via MyJoyOnline Ghana