2 groups sign MoU to support human trafficking survivors
The United Way Ghana, a non-profit organisation, and the International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide educational and economic support to survivors of human trafficking.
The MoU aims to equip these survivors in the fight against human trafficking in the country, according to a statement issued by IJM-Ghana and copied to the Ghanaian Times in Accra, on Wednesday.
Felix Kissiedu-Addi, Executive Director, United Way Ghana in the statement, said that his organisation was poised to assist IJM-Ghana in the anti-human trafficking fight.
He indicated that the community-based initiative, dubbed “The Anti-Child Trafficking Project” was aimed at supporting the IJM-led “Ghana Survivor Network” (GSN).
“United Way Ghana is committed to support IJM with its GSN project by providing educational support to 20 survivors and enrolling 20 survivors in an Economic Empowerment Project, during the one-year partnership and even beyond”, Mr Kissiedu-Addi said.
He said in Senya Beraku in the Central Region, the project would form an advocacy force to combat child trafficking in underserved communities.
Mr Kissiedu-Addi said the project would help empower at least 20 survivors of human trafficking as leaders in their communities to join other ‘surviving’ leaders at national and global levels to advocate towards the protection of vulnerable people and by strengthening the justice systems.
Director, IJM West Africa, Anita Budu, expressed IJM’s gratitude to United Way for its support, adding that the partnership would ensure the restoration of survivors in the Senya Beraku District.
She said the Survivor Chapter in Senya Beraku would be part of two already-existing Survivor Chapters: ‘Hope in Freedom’ Chapter, at Anyamam in the Ada West District and ‘My Story Counts’ Chapter in Ho, Volta Region.
Ms Budu said the implementation of the project would be a collaborative effort of IJM Ghana, United Way Ghana, the Awutu Senya Beraku District Assembly and Department of Social Welfare.
Robert Mills and Faustina Abbey, Project Lead and Impact Lead, respectively at United Way Ghana, also attended the MoU signing ceremony.
Worlanyo Forster, National Director for Advocacy and Partnerships, Josephine Aparo, who is the Senior Lead for the Global Survivor Network, and Huda Zakaria, an Assistant Coordinator for Advocacy and Partnerships, represented IJM Ghana at the signing of the MoU.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
