Ghana is working to improve its ranking in the US Trafficking in the Persons report, including setting up a new shelter for female victims of human trafficking.
In 2018, the government rescued 341 victims of human trafficking — 95 adults and the rest children. Yet prosecutions remained relatively few and far between, with just 6 convictions for human trafficking and 13 convictions for child labor.
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The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, explained that much of this had to do with getting victims of testify.
News Ghana reports:
“The key challenge however is getting adult victims to testify during Prosecutions since there were no safe places to keep them, hindering more convictions taking into account the number of rescues and the number of suspects arrested,” she said.
“Victim protection after rescue is very critical to enable them be stabilized and attain effective rehabilitation and also enhance the protection processes for more convictions.”
She therefore, encouraged the general public to report any form of abuse to the security agencies to help reduce crime in the country.
However, she commended President H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Addo for all his support and resources provided to the Ministry and that matter the Human Trafficking Fund to undertake the activities in renovating and furnishing the government section of the children shelter.
In addition to new shelter for human trafficking victims, the government is also embarking on developing a Human Trafficking National Plan, as well as training and capacity building for law enforcement.
There has also been the establishment of the Human Trafficking Fund, with the government pledging Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢500,000.00) for anti-trafficking activities.
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The article title is misleading. no Shelter has been set up thus far.