On World Day Against Human Trafficking, also known as Blue Day, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has issued a powerful call to all Ghanaians: collaborate and fight against human trafficking.
The Minister emphasized the urgency of this battle, urging citizens to “say something when they see something” to combat this societal menace.
Mahama Government’s Commitment to Human Rights
Addressing stakeholders at the Efua Sutherland Park yesterday, where a Health Walk was organized to raise awareness, Minister Naa Momo affirmed the John Dramani Mahama government’s unwavering commitment to upholding human rights and safeguarding children from exploitation, ensuring the 1992 constitution is upheld.
The event, themed “The Human Trafficking Law At 20: The Journey So Far In Ghana,” resonated with the global call to action: “Leave No One Behind, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges,” underscoring Ghana’s dedication to eradicating human trafficking and irregular migration.
A Global Scourge: The Alarming Statistics
Minister Lartey highlighted that the fight against human trafficking demands enhanced cooperation, deeper understanding, and the dismantling of all obstacles hindering effective victim identification, protection, and justice.
She cited alarming statistics: “Ghana celebrates 20 years of the Human Trafficking Act at 694, 2005, in the fight against human trafficking since it ratified the Palermo protocol and adapted it to help in the fight against human trafficking.
According to UN estimates, at any given time, an estimated 2.5 million people are trapped in modern-day slavery, and that’s scary.”
She further revealed that men, women, and children continue to fall prey to traffickers, both domestically and internationally, affecting every nation as a source, transit, or destination country.
With the human trafficking economy exceeding $30 billion, perpetrators are fiercely determined to maintain their stronghold, making the battle increasingly challenging.
Ghana: A Hub for Trafficking, With a Disturbing Rise in Cyber Fraud
The Minister disclosed that Ghana serves as a source, transit, and destination country for individuals subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. She expressed particular alarm over the recent surge in men trafficked for cyber fraud.
Warning to Ghanaian Women: Beware of Fraudulent Agencies
Naa Momo issued a stern warning to Ghanaian women, urging them to exercise extreme caution against unscrupulous and fraudulent agencies. These entities entice victims with promises of lucrative domestic service or hospitality jobs, only to subject them to abuse, rape, humiliation, and degradation.
“Some have lost their dignity and everything they worked for in life to traffickers and their exploiters, while many have reported being deceived, overwhelmed, stabbed, molested, or forced into prostitution – an act of sleeping with countless men,” she lamented.
Government’s Legislative Arsenal Against Trafficking
In response to this grave threat, the government is actively working to curb the menace by implementing robust legislation to protect victims and punish perpetrators.
Ghana has enacted the Human Trafficking Act of 2005 (Act 694), along with an eight-amendment and the passage of the human trafficking prohibition regulation.
Furthermore, the Ministry has developed the Human Trafficking National Plan of Action (2022), a comprehensive document designed to support the effective implementation of the Human Trafficking Act, focusing on prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.
IOM Commends Ghana Police
Mr. Edem Sormodji, representing the International Organization for Migration (IOM), commended the Ghana Police Service for its commendable record of prosecuting traffickers.
He called for continued innovation and intensified collaboration among all stakeholders in the ongoing fight against this pervasive societal ill.
By Philip Antoh