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More than 49,000 of the estimated 100,000 children entrapped into modern slavery of child labour are operating on the Volta Lake in the country.

Mr David Kofi Ewusi, the Country Director of Engage Now Africa, a Child protection and welfare Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has disclosed.

He said out of the figure, 21,000 were engaged in hazardous labour that was dangerous to their health and threatened their lives.

Mr Ewusi, who was speaking at a public sensitisation durbar for school children in the Cape Coast Metropolis on the menace of child trafficking, said modern slavery was occurring everyday and everywhere involving about 1.8 million children.

The sensitisation programme was organised by the Central Regional Police Command with support from Engage Now Africa on the theme: "Am aware, you can't traffic me."

It formed part of their collaborative mission to engage and strengthen individuals, families and communities to end poverty by instilling hope through education, self-support assistance, and eradication of all modern forms of slavery.

Mr Ewusi said the psychological effects of child labour on victims are enormous adding that “sometimes it is extremely painful to look at scars at the back, thigh, forehead and stomach of some of the victims of exploitation”.

The practice, he said, remains a “silent nightmare” among victims as innocent children went through worst forms of torture, molestations and denial of education, food and shelter.

Mr Ewusi said the practice of engaging children for hazardous activities was a violation of their rights and illegal according to the Human Trafficking Act, 2005.

Divisional Commander of Police (DCOP) Paul Manly Awini, Central Regional Police Commander, outlined measures instituted by the police to effectively tackle the menace of child trafficking and child abuse in the Region.

This included the appointment of desk officers in all Divisional Headquarters and some districts to receive and investigate cases of human trafficking across the Region.

Additionally, Police patrol team at various check points have been embolden to be vigilant to detect children who are being trafficked in vehicles and other means of transportation.

The Regional Commander said his outfit shall continue to embark on public education effort especially among children to effectively reduce the increasing phenomenon of child trafficking, abuse and it's attending debilitating effects.

DCOP Awini said "most of the children being trafficked to inland fishing communities along the Volta Lake are being used in menial jobs such as disentangling fishing nets under the water, which is very detrimental to their health and wellbeing."