Stakeholders and participants of Kofcity We Dey Project under Star Ghana Foundation’s broader initiative, the “Our City Project” funded Fondation Botnar under the Action for Youth Development (AfYD) initiative call for stronger collaboration between the New Juaben Traditional Council and the Municipal Assembly to enforce by-laws to deter teenage children from engaging in prostitution.
Teenage prostitution allegedly surged by 40% teenage prostitution in 2022 in New Juaben with the Member of Parliament Michael Okyere Baafi raising serious concerns.
Concerned stakeholders are calling on the New Juaben Traditional Council and the Municipal Assembly to take decisive steps in addressing the alarming surge in teenage prostitution, which reportedly increased by 40% in 2022.
The rise in teenage prostitution is attributed to an increase in pimps recruiting both foreigners, mainly Nigerians, and young Ghanaians for sexual exploitation.
Teenage Girls are frequently observed around popular drinking spots, pubs, nightclubs, and the Legion Hall area at night, wearing seductive dresses and soliciting sex for money.
Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, disturbed by the situation, led a police raid on some brothels last year, resulting in the arrest of some suspects.
However, the issue persists, prompting stakeholders and participants of the Kofcity We Dey Project under the broader “Our City Project” initiative by the Star Ghana Foundation, funded by Fondation Botnar under the Action for Youth Development (AfYD) initiative, to call for stronger collaboration.
The stakeholders emphasize the need for a concerted effort between the New Juaben Traditional Council and the Municipal Assembly to enforce by-laws that discourage underage children from roaming in town at night.
Edmund Atweri Duodu, Executive Director of DMAC Foundation, a nonprofit organization and implementation partner of the “Kofcity We Dey Project,” highlighted the positive impact of the project in enhancing the capacity of youth in New Juaben to actively participate in governance and community action.
He noted that some participants successfully contested in the recent unit committee and assembly elections, expressing hope that they would effectively convey the concerns of the youth to the assembly for necessary action.
Duodu further revealed that this year, the project team plans to enter ghettos, brothels, and other places to address the challenges faced by youth caught up in social vices, including teenage prostitution.
The “Kofcity We Dey Project ” believes collaborative efforts of stakeholders and the proactive involvement of the youth are crucial steps towards addressing challenges facing the youth in New Juaben South municipality and fostering a safer environment for the younger population .
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Kojo Ansah