Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Andreas Kamasah
Published on 2024-02-13 10:27:11
This image is a depiction of a troubling trend called “fish for sex” that is prevalent in the fishing communities of Jomoro in Ghana. A report by JoyNews has confirmed that fishermen take advantage of vulnerable young girls who are expected to contribute to the upkeep of their families. Irene Obeng, Deputy Manager of the Jomoro Fishery Commission, confirmed this unfortunate phenomenon and stated that fishermen take advantage of young girls due to their age.
She expressed her concern about the situation by saying, “The girls are young, so the fishermen take advantage of the situation and have sex with them, fish for sex is prevalent in the community.” This statement sheds light on the extent to which young girls are exploited in these communities.
A fisherman who has been fishing in the area for over a decade, identified as Maxwell, acknowledged the trend, describing it as a quid pro quo. According to him, there is fierce competition for the fish when it arrives, and if people are not quick enough, they will miss out. In this environment, some people turn to the fishermen directly for fish but at a price – the price being transactional sex. Maxwell describes it as a barter system – “you give me fish, I give you sex.”
The concerning part is that this exploitation is not limited to single teenagers, as even married women engage in this “barter trade” with the fishermen. The imbalance of power in these transactions puts the fishermen at an advantage and leaves the women and girls vulnerable to exploitation.
The consequences of this exploitative practice are far-reaching and have a direct impact on the lives of the young girls and women involved. A local teacher in the area lamented how many teenage girls have dropped out of school due to pregnancy from transactional sex. This paints a grim picture of the cycle of poverty and exploitation that perpetuates in these fishing communities.
One 17-year-old single mother, Adwoa, revealed that she met the father of her child through the same ‘sex for fish’ trend. She opted out of their relationship when she realized that he had been exploiting other girls in the same way. Her story is a stark representation of the impact of this exploitative practice on the lives of young girls.
This “fish for sex” trend not only exploits vulnerable young girls and women but perpetuates a cycle of poverty and educational deprivation. It is a systemic issue that requires urgent attention and intervention to protect the rights and well-being of these vulnerable individuals. The exploitation of young girls and women in fishing communities is a deeply concerning issue that needs to be addressed through community education, enforcement of laws, and support for the victims of this exploitative practice. It is imperative to empower and protect these vulnerable individuals to break the cycle of exploitation and ensure their access to education and opportunities for a better future.
Read Original article on Pulse News
