Ghana sees rise in human trafficking – Report

The 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance has revealed that Ghana’s anti-trafficking measures saw negative outcomes from 2018 to 2023.

Once hailed as a regional leader in the fight against trafficking, the country has experienced a disturbing trend, with an increase in human trafficking cases, reversing earlier progress.

From 2013 to 2024, Ghana made notable strides in reducing trafficking activities, but recent reports indicate an alarming resurgence that undermines much of the progress made.

From 2014 to 2018, Ghana’s anti-trafficking efforts yielded positive results, with a consistent rating of 68.8 out of 100. However, these efforts began to decline from 2019 to 2023, with 2022 and 2023 recording the lowest score of 31.3 out of 100.

As part of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection’s initiative to prevent human trafficking, 60 law enforcement agencies have been provided with advanced capacity-building training to address adult and child trafficking, child labor, irregular migration, and other forms of exploitation.

While Ghana has made considerable progress in its fight against human trafficking, the recent rise in cases highlights ongoing challenges. The recent increase in trafficking cases signals that greater efforts are needed to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent traffickers from exploiting them.