… The organisation commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, particularly the Human Trafficking Secretariat, for coordinating national anti-trafficking efforts and implementing Ghana’s National Action Plan. …
… The Director of the Human Trafficking Secretariat, Madam Abena Annobea Asare, led sessions on the basic concepts of human trafficking in Ghana, emphasising the need for frontline officers to understand the nature and dynamics of trafficking to improve their response to suspected …
… the Human Trafficking Act had established a comprehensive legal framework that went beyond criminalising trafficking to promoting prevention, victim protection and rehabilitation, prosecution of offenders and coordinated national response through the Human Trafficking Secretariat …
… The forum therefore urged government to strengthen the Human Trafficking Secretariat and improve referral systems by expanding access to shelters, trauma-informed counselling, rehabilitation services and reintegration programmes. …
… Also present at the launch, organised by the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection were heads of government institutions, some Members of Parliament, civil society organizations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and several …
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) held an inaugural meeting and swearing-in ceremony for members of the Technical Working Group tasked with reviewing and developing a new National Plan …
Ghana has been upgraded from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Department of State's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, the highest ranking indicating the country fully meets minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. International Justice Mission Ghana attributed the achievement to coordinated action by government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and communities.
Ghana has been upgraded from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Department of State's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, the highest ranking indicating the country fully meets minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. International Justice Mission Ghana attributed the achievement to coordinated action by government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and communities.
Law enforcement officers from Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and other institutions underwent a two-day capacity-building programme in Accra to strengthen their ability to detect, investigate and respond to human trafficking and emerging forms of exploitation, including migrant smuggling, child trafficking, labour trafficking and cyber-related crimes.
The Country Director of International Justice Mission has called on the Ghana government to prioritise financing for child protection as a strategic investment, noting that Ghana's core child protection spending in 2024 was approximately GH¢7 per child per year, while UNICEF estimates the annual economic cost of child abuse in Ghana at between US$223 million and US$347 million.
Ghana's Anti-Human Trafficking Unit rescued 33 girls and young women from trafficking and sexual exploitation in a weekend operation; survivors reported being forced to pay up to GH¢20,000 for their freedom. The operation, supported by child rights organisation Challenging Heights, revealed signs of an organised commercial trafficking network involving recruitment, transportation, and financial targets.
The International Justice Mission has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society, media, survivor groups and communities to sustain Ghana's anti-trafficking efforts and improve victim protection and justice. The call was made at the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marking 20 years since the enactment of Ghana's Human Trafficking Act in 2005.
An anti-human trafficking forum has called on the Government of Ghana to stop prosecuting victims of trafficking for forced cybercrime, warning that treating them as criminals allows trafficking syndicates to thrive. The forum urged state institutions to adopt a victim-centred approach and ensure that individuals rescued from scam operations are screened as potential trafficking victims before any criminal proceedings.
Stakeholders at Ghana's National Justice Conference called for sustainable financing of child protection systems, warning that inadequate funding could undermine efforts to combat child labour exploitation and trafficking. The conference, held in Accra, brought together government officials, lawmakers, civil society organisations, faith leaders, survivors and development partners to discuss strengthening long-term interventions for vulnerable children.
Ghana's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a media campaign for the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, focused on combating human trafficking in sports. The campaign, held in Accra in May 2026 with support from the International Justice Mission, aims to raise awareness about the exploitation of young athletes who are lured by false promises of football contracts and scholarships.
The International Justice Mission has urged the government and stakeholders to make adequate budgetary allocations to the Human Trafficking Fund, citing the need for increased awareness, stronger collaboration, and sustainable funding as trafficking networks become increasingly sophisticated.
Ghana's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection inaugurated a Technical Working Group to review the current National Plan of Action on human trafficking (2022–2026) and develop a new plan for 2027–2031. The Minister emphasized that human trafficking remains a significant challenge requiring coordinated collaboration to protect vulnerable groups.