Cape Coast Mayor Decries Exploitation
A GhanaWeb documentary has exposed the growing exploitation of young girls in fishing communities, sparking concern from the Mayor of Cape Coast, George Justice Arthur.
In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Etsey Atisu, who investigated the documentary titled “Sex for Fish,” the mayor identified parental neglect as a major contributor to the problem. He noted that many parents fail to support their daughters, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation in exchange for fish.
Drawing from his own upbringing in Ntsin, the Cape Coast fishing community highlighted in the film, the mayor said the practice is widespread and deeply rooted in poverty and neglect.
He pointed to overcrowded homes and poor living conditions as additional factors, stressing that the lack of parental supervision makes it easier for young girls to fall prey to abuse. Many, he said, are forced out of school and into early motherhood as a result.
Mayor Arthur called for stronger community engagement and greater parental responsibility to curb the practice and safeguard the future of young girls in fishing communities.