Ghana’s elevation to Tier 1 in the United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has renewed calls for sustained funding for child protection, survivor support and anti-trafficking enforcement, as thousands of vulnerable people remain at risk of exploitation.
The International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana, in a statement commended the government and stakeholders for the achievement but cautioned that the improved ranking should not lead to complacency in the fight against human trafficking.
Ghana’s upgrade from Tier 2 to Tier 1 recognises the country’s progress in meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, including stronger law enforcement, improved victim identification and increased support for survivors.
According to IJM Ghana, the progress reflects coordinated efforts by government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and communities to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute offenders.
During the reporting period, Ghana prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers and secured 28 convictions, while identifying 2,331 trafficking victims and referring all identified victims to appropriate services.
The government also increased funding for victim assistance and anti-trafficking initiatives, expanded frontline training and strengthened international cooperation to combat trafficking and forced labour.
IJM Ghana said the increased identification and referral of victims demonstrated improvements in the capacity of social welfare officers, law enforcement personnel, labour inspectors, immigration officers and civil society organisations to respond to trafficking cases.
However, the organisation warned that limited shelter capacity, particularly for adult survivors, and inadequate resources for anti-trafficking interventions in rural communities remained significant concerns.
It called for additional investment in survivor services, specialised training to tackle technology-enabled trafficking and stronger protection systems to address vulnerabilities that expose children and adults to exploitation.
The report identified child trafficking as a continuing challenge, particularly in inland and coastal fishing, domestic work, street hawking, agriculture, artisanal mining, quarrying and herding.
Child trafficking on Lake Volta also remains a major concern, with children from Ghana and neighbouring West African countries vulnerable to exploitation.
The increasing use of technology by traffickers to lure victims through fraudulent job offers, online scams, cybercrime schemes and deceptive migration opportunities has further complicated efforts to combat the crime.
IJM Ghana said addressing these challenges would require stronger community awareness, coordinated law enforcement responses and sustained support for survivors.
Anita Budu, Director of IJM’s West Africa Programme, said Ghana’s elevation to Tier 1 status demonstrated the importance of coordinated action and collective commitment.
She commended the government and stakeholders for their contribution to the achievement but stressed that thousands of children and vulnerable adults remained at risk of trafficking and exploitation.
The organisation also highlighted the role of civil society groups in providing survivor care, operating shelters, supporting investigations, conducting public education campaigns and training frontline officials.
It urged stakeholders to treat the improved ranking as an opportunity to strengthen accountability, adequately resource frontline institutions and expand protection services rather than an indication that the fight against trafficking had been won.
IJM Ghana said sustained collaboration between government institutions, civil society and communities would be essential to protecting vulnerable people and ensuring that traffickers were held accountable.
