Tackling Child Trafficking in Ghana: Causes, Interventions and the Way Forward

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to examine causes of child trafficking, identify current strategies and interventions being used to fight child trafficking and what interventions and strategies stakeholders recommend to address child trafficking. Eight key informant interviewers and discussants were purposively sampled. Qualitative data were obtained using one on one interviews and focus group discussion that run between 40 and 170 minutes. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analyzed thematically informed by the economic disparity theory and the victim theory. Respondent expressed economic, social and cultural causes of child trafficking. These causes were informed by institutional experiences through efforts to stop child trafficking. Current interventions focused on legal, economic and cultural interventions. Stakeholders recommended institutional amendment, economic and other socio-cultural interventions based on challenges that they encountered fighting child trafficking. Economic causes of child trafficking were the major cause of child trafficking. The economic disparity theory was the most dominant theory that explained the causes of child trafficking. The victim and economic theories shaped most of the interventions that are currently being used to tackle child trafficking. Recommendations prescribe that intervention be applied through a framework that combines cultural beliefs and practices with legal components of child trafficking.