Former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Bampoe and some officials of O.U.R at merger launch.
Abuse Relief Corps (ARC), a non-governmental organisation has officially merged with Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R) to intensify the fight against sexual abuses and child sex trafficking in Ghana.
ARC has for the past seven years been committed to the facilitation of the quest for justice for survivors of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in Ghana by approaching for assistance, payment for the police medical report form and provision of finances to ensure that survivors get access to post-assault care.
The organisation also provided continued support by offering transportation to and from courts, police stations and hospitals, as well as payment for all treatment costs for victims of sexual exploitation.
O.UR. is a United States-based NGO aimed at rescuing women and children from trafficking and sexual exploitation by supporting law enforcement and other government agencies through the transfer of equipment, knowledge and supporting local organisations to provide high quality aftercare support to survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Speaking at the official launch of the two organisations in Accra, former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, called for the establishment of relief centres across the country for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking.
She called for concerted efforts and collaboration between government and stakeholders in the fight against child sexual abuses, trafficking and all other forms of abuses suffered by women and children across the country.
“Government should devote more resources in establishing shelters for victims. We need shelters in every region. I am hoping that by now the Ghana police Service, Department of Social Welfare, Ministries of Interior and Gender and Social Protections would have mapped out hot spots of cases of rape and defilement.”
Ms. Bampoe Addo also appealed to government and stakeholders to address other forms of abuse such as emotional, economic and psychological which are as dangerous as the others.
She commended ARC for its effort in pushing the conviction rate of cases from 0.60 percent in 2012 to a little over 30 percent currently.
Fred Akweter, Country Manager for O.U.R, indicated that the merger would ₵and trafficked victims in Ghana.
He said the merger will also help O.U.R in assisting the Ghana Police Service in apprehending child trafficking syndicates and further called for more efforts from government in the fight against child sex exploitations.
Robyn Jesse Ern, Founder of ARC, highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the years and hoped that the merger will lead to a more positive outcomes in the years to come.
David Jacobs, Chief Global Operations Manager of O.U.R, on his part disclosed that they have over the years provided prosecutorial and other trainings to law enforcement agencies and was optimistic the merger would have an impact on the lives of women and children in Ghana.
The launch was used to present 10 new laptops worth GH₵90,000 to the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Service.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak