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By: Samuel Asamoah
International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana has called for increased funding for human trafficking prevention and child protection following Ghana’s elevation from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
In a press release dated October 9, 2026, IJM Ghana described the upgrade as a significant national achievement reflecting progress in preventing human trafficking, protecting survivors and prosecuting offenders.
However, the organisation cautioned that the improved international ranking should not lead to complacency, stressing that children and vulnerable adults remain exposed to exploitation across several sectors of the economy.
According to IJM Ghana, Ghana’s Tier 1 status reflects its efforts to meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, supported by improved law enforcement, stronger institutional collaboration, increased funding for victim assistance and enhanced international cooperation.
212 alleged traffickers prosecuted
The organisation cited significant progress in law enforcement and victim protection during the reporting period.
It said Ghana prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers and secured 28 convictions, while 2,331 trafficking victims were identified and referred to appropriate services.
The government also increased funding for victim assistance and anti-trafficking initiatives, expanded training for frontline personnel and strengthened efforts to combat online scam operations associated with trafficking and forced labour.
IJM Ghana said the increase in victim identification and referrals demonstrated growing capacity among social welfare officers, law enforcement personnel, labour inspectors, immigration officers and civil society organisations to identify victims and connect them with support services.
The organisation commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, particularly the Human Trafficking Secretariat, alongside the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Economic and Organised Crime Office for their contributions to the country’s anti-trafficking efforts.
It also acknowledged the roles of Parliament, civil society organisations, the media, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and members of the public.
Child trafficking remains a major concern
Despite the improved ranking, IJM Ghana warned that child trafficking and forced labour remain serious challenges requiring sustained national attention.
It cited the exploitation of children in inland and coastal fishing, domestic work, street hawking, agriculture, artisanal mining, quarrying and herding.
Child trafficking on Lake Volta remains a significant concern, with children from Ghana and neighbouring West African countries vulnerable to exploitation.
The organisation also highlighted the growing use of technology by traffickers to recruit and exploit victims through fraudulent job offers, cybercrime schemes, online scams and deceptive migration opportunities.
It called for sustained investment in child protection systems, survivor-centred services, community awareness and coordinated law enforcement responses to address these threats.
Shelter capacity and funding gaps
IJM Ghana further identified limited shelter capacity, particularly for adult survivors, as a continuing challenge.
It said additional resources were needed to strengthen anti-trafficking interventions in rural communities, improve specialised training for cyber-enabled trafficking investigations and expand services for survivors.
The organisation stressed that maintaining Ghana’s improved status would require adequate funding for frontline institutions, stronger accountability mechanisms and continued collaboration among government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Civil society organisations, it noted, had played an important role in providing survivor care, operating shelters, conducting public education, supporting investigations and training frontline officials.
IJM calls for renewed commitment
Reacting to Ghana’s elevation, IJM’s Director of the West Africa Programme, Anita Budu, described the development as a significant national achievement but urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable people.
She said the progress reflected coordinated action and collective commitment but warned that thousands of children and vulnerable adults remained at risk of trafficking and exploitation.
Ms Budu called for renewed efforts to ensure that children were protected, survivors received adequate support and traffickers were held accountable.
IJM Ghana urged stakeholders to view the Tier 1 ranking not as the end of the country’s anti-trafficking efforts but as an opportunity to deepen interventions and strengthen protection systems.
The organisation said sustained progress would depend on adequate resourcing, effective accountability and a continued commitment to protecting people from violence, exploitation and abuse.
