The Department of Social Welfare in the Central Region has expressed deep concern about an observed steep rise in child prostitution in the region.
Director of Social Welfare in Cape Coast Metropolis, Daniel Wallace, says the kids, in their early teens offer their services for as low as 1 cedi, and sometimes for items such as food and clothing.
He blames an increasing rate of poverty in the region, forcing minors to engage in any venture that would enable them survive, because their parents cannot afford to cater for them.
The situation exposes the kids to all sort of abuse, some of the clients who are unable to pay for the service sometimes assault them.
“They have sex with the girls on credit and beat them when they demand for the payment. They are hungry and are ready to do anything to surviveâ€Â
Mr Wallace says some poor and vulnerable households in the coastal fishing areas have also resorted to trafficking some of these children to make ends meet. This is because dwindling stocks have made fishing unprofitable.
He is calling on the government as a matter of urgency to provide alternate livelihoods for these parents to arrest the root cause of the problem, poverty.