The government increased anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. The 2005 Human Trafficking Act, amended in 2009, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The Human Trafficking Act prescribed penalties of a minimum of five years’ imprisonment, which were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. However, the 2015 regulations for this Act, which are non-discretionary and have the force of law, provided specific guidance on sentencing depending on the circumstances; in general, the term is not less than five years’ imprisonment and not more than 25 years’ imprisonment, but if a parent, guardian, or other person with parental responsibilities facilitates or engages in trafficking, they are liable to a fine, five to 10 years’ imprisonment, or both. By allowing for a fine in lieu of imprisonment, these penalties were not commensurate with those for other grave crimes, such as rape.
Authorities initiated investigations of 109 trafficking cases (31 sex trafficking cases, 65 labor trafficking cases, and 13 cases of unspecified forms of trafficking) and continued six investigations (two sex trafficking and four labor trafficking cases) in 2023, compared with initiating investigations of 133 cases in 2022. The government initiated prosecutions of 47 alleged traffickers (15 for sex trafficking, 29 for labor trafficking, and three for unspecified forms of trafficking) and continued prosecutions of two alleged sex traffickers. Courts convicted 19 traffickers under the 2005 anti-trafficking law, including 10 sex traffickers and nine labor traffickers, and sentenced them to between one month and 15 years’ imprisonment. This compared with initiating prosecutions of 28 alleged traffickers, continuing prosecutions of seven alleged traffickers, and convicting 10 traffickers in 2022. In some cases, the government prosecuted alleged traffickers under the Children’s Act of 1998 when there was insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction under the anti-trafficking law. The government prosecuted and convicted three defendants for exploitative child labor under the Children’s Act; courts issued fines to all three defendants. Despite reports of fraudulent labor recruiters exploiting Ghanaian victims abroad, the government did not report investigating or prosecuting any fraudulent recruitment cases. The government did not report cooperating with foreign counterparts on law enforcement activities. However, one NGO reported authorities collaborated with foreign counterparts on a law enforcement investigation of a labor trafficking online scam operation. Media reported law enforcement removed some children from potential trafficking situations without sufficient evidence and used unnecessary force and trauma-insensitive tactics.
The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees allegedly complicit in human trafficking crimes; however, official corruption and complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action. Observers alleged some traffickers operated with the support or acquiescence of law enforcement or justice officials and some officials interfered in law enforcement proceedings. Traffickers reportedly bribed law enforcement officials and government-appointed monitors in charge of inspecting Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessels for illegal practices, including forced labor. During previous reporting periods, some law enforcement officers reportedly solicited bribes from suspects and sought payment from victims or civil society for transportation or operating expenses to initiate investigations; in past years, some senior police officers reportedly attempted to intimidate civil society from reporting trafficking cases.
The Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and the Economic and Organized Crime Office had dedicated, specialized anti-trafficking units. The Ghana Marine Police operated specialized patrols on Lake Volta to identify and investigate child labor and trafficking cases. Fifteen courts had specialized training, procedures, and trauma-informed facilities for cases involving women and child victims, which included trafficking cases. The government, both independently and in collaboration with NGOs, provided extensive training to law enforcement, judicial officials, and other front-line actors on trafficking definitions and legal concepts, investigative and prosecutorial techniques, trauma-informed investigative practices, and victim identification and protection. The GPS and GIS police academy provided anti-trafficking training to new police officers; however, observers reported police officers outside of the specialized anti-trafficking units required additional training on the 2005 anti-trafficking law and identification of trafficking crimes. Stakeholders also reported a need for additional training on specialized investigative procedures and evidence collection. Government officials and NGOs reported a lack of sufficient funding and resources impeded anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. A lack of shelter capacity sometimes delayed investigations and law enforcement operations to remove potential victims from exploitative situations. Inadequate evidence collection, weak collaboration between police and prosecutors, and a lack of experienced state attorneys further hampered prosecution of suspected traffickers. Judicial resources were concentrated in urban areas, leaving some victims in rural communities with limited access to the formal justice system.
from 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – U.S. Department of State
2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – United States Department of State
