The Minister of Tourism and Culture has indicated that part of a $68 million grant from the World Bank will be used to help female sex workers get out of prostitution. 

Speaking during the launch of the project on Tuesday (13 December), Hamat Bah said his ministry has endeavoured to cater for the group in the project to ensure that they are supported to leave the sector and live a life of dignity.

“When they say women, I would tell you how this women thing came in. I feel that some of our women doing night business is not their wish. No woman wants to feed their family by having to sell their body.

“Every woman wants to live in dignity. But let me tell you that our women are suffering immensely in this country. 

“Single parents with kids have to educate them, pay rent and nobody is coming to their aid. Some of them have gone to extreme ends to earn a living,” Mr Bah said.

“When the consultant came, I sat him down, I said I want these women who sell their bodies in this night world [sex trade] to be taken out of it and re-join society with dignity. We agreed that they will be given money, they will be trained into business,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba