Ghana traffics in children report

A United States Department Trafficking in Persons Report, released this month at the US Congress covering 82 countries stated that "Ghana is a source, transit and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, primarily children.

“Trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation also occurs within Ghana. …Children are trafficked to and from Cote D'Ivoire, Togo and Nigeria for indentured or domestic servitude, farm labor and prostitution. Children trafficked from Burkina Faso transit Ghana on the way to Cote D'Ivoire".

The Report also criticized the "practice of 'Trokosi" a localized form of slavery or ritual servitude in which girls are forced into slavery for local fetish shrines in repayment for offences committed by members of the girls' families. Young women are trafficked to Europe and the Middle East for sexual exploitation".

The Government of Ghana does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resources constraints.

There is no law specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons; however, the Government can prosecute traffickers under laws against slavery, prostitution, and underage labor. The Government does not actively investigate or prosecute traffickers and has difficulties adequately monitoring its borders.

Trokosi is illegal in Ghana, but no action have been undertaken to eliminate its shrines or prosecute either the fetish priests or parent who have given away their daughters.

The Government supports programmes to prevent trafficking, including poverty alleviation and access to education. The Government is participating in a two-part ILO trafficking project with eight other countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). The Government works to repatriate trafficked children and reunite them with their parents. Assistance to victims is provided by NGO's.