Bridge Over Troubled Water

Child Trafficking in Lake Volta

Abstract

          The growing concern of human trafficking has shaped international and national policies and treaties. As a major threat to international peace and security, human trafficking deconstructs systems and policy efficiency, and is perpetuated by individuals all over the world. Child trafficking is a major component of human trafficking, and is especially prevalent in the fishing industries of Lake Volta located in Ghana. Although the Government of Ghana has enacted multiple policies and international treaties to combat human/child trafficking, widespread poverty and weak enforcement minimize the effectiveness of ratified treaties and policies. Taking efforts to minimize these vulnerabilities are excellent ways to facilitate the beginning of a process to end child trafficking in the Lake Volta region. By including more stakeholders in the planning and implementation phases of anti-trafficking policies and systems, the likelihood of success in the long-term increases.

            A coordinated regional, national, and international effort to combat both the issue of human/child trafficking and the root causes of child trafficking are necessary. International and regional collaboration can be useful first steps in bridging the gap to condemn trafficking and re-evaluate the effectiveness of policies. Examining some of the driving forces of child trafficking can be helpful in determining a plan to promote stability and empowerment among both individuals and communities. Human/child trafficking cannot be solved with one specific policy or treaty, but taking the first steps to discuss and examine the crisis are essential to initiating a worldwide-concerted effort to condemn and prevent trafficking.