Influence of Rescue Programmes on Families and Trafficked Children in the North Tongu District

Abstract

The study sought to investigate factors that influenced child trafficking, and also to ascertain the influence of rescue programmes on the families and the well-being of the trafficked children in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region. The hypotheses for the study were, a) There is a positive relationship between the economic status of families and child trafficking, b) There is a positive relationship between the rescue programme and the economic status of the families of rescued children (guardians), c) There is a positive relationship between the rescue programme and the well-being of the trafficked children. The target population comprised all guardians and rescued children living in the seven communities in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region visited. A child and a guardian from each of the one hundred and sixteen (116) households visited were interviewed. Data were collected using structured interview schedules and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software programme. Pearson’s Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the three hypotheses. The study revealed that, only 30% of the rescued children lived with their biological parents. Majority of the guardians about 65% were grandmothers while 5% were other extended family members. The main source of income for the guardians was from the subsistence farming undertaken by these weak old people, and thus income levels were very low accounting for guardians giving away their wards with the hope that they would be better off wherever they went. The guardians regarded the practice of sending their wards away as a socialization process that prepared the children for adulthood. The children were abused by not been sent to

school while serving their masters, this affected their social and educational development. Although the rescue programmes could not completely solve economic problems of families, it helped temporarily keep these children in school thus promoted their social and educational well-being. The result of the first hypothesis tested revealed a significant moderate positive correlation between economic status of guardians and child trafficking thus accepting the first hypotheses. The second hypotheses tested revealed a significant strong negative correlation between the rescue programme and the economic status of the families of the rescued children (guardians) thus rejecting the second hypotheses. The third hypotheses tested revealed a significant weak positive correlation between the rescue programme and the wellbeing of the rescued children thus accepting the third hypotheses. It was recommended that the rescue programmes be revised to meet the needs of the rescued children and guardians. It was again recommended that parents should be educated to know their responsibilities towards their children. Poverty reduction programmes for families by government, should provide support for parents to take care of their children. Again as much as possible these programmes should be sustained to ensure that positive change is seen in the lives of these trafficked children and their parents.