Also known as: IJM
International Justice Mission — organization combating human trafficking and child exploitation, working with Ghana's government and civil society on victim rescue, justice system strengthening, and child protection funding.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Daily Guide
… Lartey further acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the International Justice Mission (IJM), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), for their support which has continued to strengthen the country’s …
Govt Reaffirms Commitment To Strengthen Child Protection SystemJoy Online
… Glawu said he was rescued in 2015 through a police operation supported by International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana, which he described as the result of funding, training and logistics rather than chance. …
Trafficked at 7, rescued at 17 — Survivor Godson Glawu calls for sustained child protection fundingJoy Online
International Justice Mission (IJM) has identified three key factors it says are essential to achieving lasting progress in the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation, urging Ghanaian stakeholders to consider them as they shape child protection funding priorities. …
IJM identifies sustainable funding, partnerships and data as key to combating child traffickingJoy Online
International Justice Mission (IJM) says it has recorded reductions of between 50 and 85 per cent in trafficking and violence across nine countries where governments led sustained investment in strengthening justice systems. …
IJM cites 50–85% drop in trafficking, violence in countries with sustained justice investmentJoy Online
International Justice Mission (IJM) has called on the government to fully resource Ghana’s Human Trafficking Fund, describing it as a critical mechanism for supporting survivors and strengthening the country’s response to child trafficking and labour exploitation. …
Ghana’s Human Trafficking Fund needs sustained financing to deliver on mandate — IJMJoy Online
International Justice Mission (IJM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to strengthen public education on child protection and labour exploitation across Ghana. …
IJM, NCCE sign MoU to strengthen public education on child protectionJoy Online
International Justice Mission (IJM) says it has trained 87 journalists across Ghana since December 2025 under its partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to strengthen media reporting on child trafficking and labour exploitation. …
87 journalists trained on child trafficking reporting through IJM-GJA collaborationJoy Online
The escape of a 16-year-old boy from forced labour on Lake Volta in 2024 has led to the rescue of six other trafficked children, including his younger brother, the International Justice Mission (IJM) has revealed. …
How a 16-year-old boy’s escape from forced labour on Lake Volta helped rescue six trafficked childrenJoy Online
… Delivering the welcome address on behalf of International Justice Mission (IJM), the Director of the organisation’s West Africa Programme, Anita Budu, said sustainable funding had become an urgent requirement rather than a future ambition. …
National Justice Conference calls for sustainable funding to combat child labour exploitationJoy Online
… Dadzie expressed gratitude to the stakeholders of the initiative, including International Justice Mission and the Police Service in the Ahafo region for their partnership and resilience. …
Cocoa must yield living income, free from deforestation and child labour – The NetherlandsLaw 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.
28 September 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
28 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Country Director of International Justice Mission has called for a dedicated child protection fund at the district level through the District Assemblies Common Fund Allocation Framework, saying district authorities need predictable resources to identify vulnerable children, respond to cases, support families, and strengthen prevention efforts.
18 September 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission's Country Director urged Ghana's government to develop a sustainable national financing framework for children to reduce reliance on external donor funding. She stressed that child protection should not depend solely on donor priorities or funding cycles, and called on Parliament to strengthen oversight of child protection budgets.
17 September 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
17 September 2026 · Joy Online →
A JoyNews Research analysis of official data from 2017 to 2025 found that of 1,264 human trafficking cases recorded in Ghana, only 361 progressed to prosecution and 158 resulted in convictions. The gap in the criminal justice process occurs before prosecution; once cases reach court, 44% end in conviction.
14 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Member of Parliament for Sekyere Kumawu, Ernest Yaw Anim, brought together traditional authorities, religious leaders, and state institutions to strengthen collaboration on human rights protection and address child labour in the district, with particular focus on harmful forms of labour including illegal mining.
6 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The International Justice Mission has reaffirmed its partnership with Ghana's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to combat child trafficking, exploitation and violence. The Minister noted the collaboration has yielded results including strengthened child protection systems, joint rescue operations, and public education on child protection laws.
3 August 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The International Justice Mission has called for stronger coordination among state institutions and civil society organisations to fight human trafficking, as more than 1,200 victims were rescued in Ghana in 2025. The director of West Africa Programs at IJM said effective efforts require close collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, social welfare institutions and development partners to improve investigations, protect survivors and secure convictions.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
A boy from Hohoe was taken to Lake Volta under the pretense of visiting his hometown and forced to work in the fishing industry for three years, where he was beaten, made to swim despite not knowing how, and forced to dive underwater to untangle nets, working alongside other children from 2015 to 2018, some of whom died.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection said government is committed to strengthening Ghana's child protection system through sustainable financing and stronger partnerships with development partners, civil society, the private sector, and communities to protect children from labour exploitation and guarantee their rights and well-being.
9 July 2026 · Daily Guide →
Godson Glawu, trafficked to Lake Volta at age seven and rescued a decade later through a police operation supported by International Justice Mission Ghana, has called on the government to treat funding for child protection systems as a sustained national priority, describing how coordinated investment in rescue and aftercare services transformed his own life.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission's Africa and Europe Regional President identified three key factors for lasting progress against human trafficking and child exploitation in Ghana: consistent public investment in justice institutions, cross-sector partnerships among government and civil society, and data-driven action in decision-making.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission says reductions of between 50 and 85 per cent in trafficking and violence have been recorded across nine countries where governments led sustained investment in strengthening justice systems. The improvements were achieved because national governments took ownership of reforms and committed resources to strengthening justice institutions, with success factors including consistent public investment, collaboration between government and civil society, and use of survivor leaders.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission has called on Ghana's government to fully resource the Human Trafficking Fund, established under the Human Trafficking Act, to support survivors and strengthen the country's response to child trafficking and labour exploitation.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission and the National Commission for Civic Education have signed an MoU to strengthen public education on child protection and labour exploitation across Ghana. The partnership has already implemented a capacity-building workshop for district-level NCCE officers and developed educational materials for nationwide public awareness campaigns.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
International Justice Mission says it has trained 87 journalists across Ghana since December 2025 under partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association to strengthen media reporting on child trafficking and labour exploitation. The training has been rolled out in the five northern regions, Volta and Oti regions, and Greater Accra.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
A 16-year-old boy's 2024 escape from forced labour on Lake Volta led to the rescue of six other trafficked children, including his younger brother, the International Justice Mission revealed. The case was presented at Ghana's National Justice Conference 2026 as an example of successful collaboration between law enforcement and social protection agencies in combating child trafficking.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Netherlands, a major player in cocoa supply chains, is investing in efforts to ensure cocoa farming delivers living income to families while eliminating deforestation and child labour. According to research by the National Opinion Research Centre, roughly 1.56 million children are engaged in child labour in cocoa production across Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, with 95% facing hazardous conditions.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
4 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a nationwide media campaign ahead of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (Blue Day), with the theme "Human Trafficking Can End: The Time is Now – Blow the Whistle on Sports Trafficking." The initiative targets exploitation of children and young athletes through fraudulent promises of football contracts and opportunities abroad.
4 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Susan Temley Akortia, Adaklu District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has stated that the best interest and safety of children must always be the primary consideration in every decision-making process. According to a 2024 UNICEF/WHO survey cited by Akortia, one in five girls experienced sexual violence before age 18, while one in seven boys suffered similar abuse.
1 June 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
29 May 2026 · Daily Guide →