Leaders from key institutions within Ghana’s public justice system have renewed calls for stronger collaboration and improved resources to combat child trafficking and support survivors.
The call was made at the first Public Justice System Leaders’ Summit held in Accra and organised by the International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana to enhance coordination among agencies responsible for investigating, prosecuting and addressing human trafficking cases.
The summit brought together regional and district representatives from the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Social Welfare and the Office of the Attorney-General from the Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Volta and Oti regions.
Participants discussed strategies to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and adopt trauma-informed approaches when handling trafficking cases.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of West Africa Programmes at IJM Ghana, Ms Anita Budu, said the organisation had collaborated with government institutions since 2015 to address trafficking through rescue operations, public awareness campaigns and capacity building for justice sector actors.
She revealed that more than 500 victims of child trafficking had been rescued over the past decade through the joint efforts of IJM and state institutions. In addition, more than 235 suspects had been arrested and over 70 convictions secured in trafficking-related cases.
Despite the progress, Ms Budu said significant challenges remained, including inadequate resources for frontline agencies and a shortage of shelters for rescued victims.
She stressed the need for greater state investment to ensure that police officers, social welfare officials and prosecutors were adequately equipped to deal with trafficking cases effectively.
Mr Andrews Dodzi Adugu, Senior State Attorney and Focal Person for the Prosecution of Human Trafficking Cases in the Volta and Oti regions, described child trafficking as a persistent problem, particularly in communities around the Volta Lake where children were often forced into hazardous labour.
He explained that prosecuting such cases could be difficult due to challenges in gathering evidence from activities taking place on the lake.
Mr Adugu also highlighted the shortage of shelters to accommodate rescued victims during the legal process and called for the establishment of more facilities across the country.
He urged members of the public to report suspected trafficking cases, noting that community cooperation was vital to the enforcement of existing laws.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Dr Anastasia Kpei Mawudoku, also encouraged justice sector personnel to prioritise their own wellbeing so they could effectively support survivors.
Participants at the summit emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration among institutions to strengthen investigations, improve care for victims and increase successful prosecutions in the fight against human trafficking in Ghana.
