Accra:The International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana has urged for increased investment in victim protection and more robust actions against child trafficking following the country's upgrade to Tier One in the 2026 United States Trafficking in Persons Report.
According to Ghana News Agency, IJM Ghana stated that the improved ranking should be a foundation for addressing ongoing trafficking risks, such as child exploitation, insufficient shelter facilities, and the growing use of technology for recruiting and exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Ghana's rise from Tier Two to Tier One was attributed to significant advancements in combating human trafficking, including the prosecution of 212 alleged traffickers, 28 convictions, and the identification of 2,331 trafficking victims in 2025. These victims were referred to appropriate support services.
In a statement responding to the report, IJM Ghana commended the government and other stakeholders for their progress but warned against considering the achievement as the conclusion of anti-trafficking efforts. Madam Anita Budu, IJM's Director for the West Africa Programme, emphasized that despite the progress, many children and vulnerable adults remain at risk.
The IJM Ghana statement highlighted ongoing child exploitation in fishing on Lake Volta and coastal communities, as well as in domestic work, street hawking, agriculture, artisanal mining, quarrying, and herding. Concerns were also raised about traffickers using technology and fraudulent job offers to recruit and exploit victims, calling for specialized training to enhance the capacity of investigators to address cyber-enabled trafficking.
Limited shelter capacity, especially for adult survivors, was identified as a challenge needing increased investment, along with improved services for survivors and more support for vulnerable rural communities. IJM Ghana praised the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and its Human Trafficking Secretariat for coordinating national anti-trafficking efforts and acknowledged the contributions of law enforcement agencies, the Office of the Attorney-General, civil society organizations, the media, faith-based groups, and traditional leaders.
IJM Ghana called for sustained collaboration and sufficient resources for frontline institutions to bolster investigations, prosecutions, and victim support, urging that the achievement should inspire renewed efforts to protect vulnerable people and ensure traffickers are held accountable.