In 2021, social workers and non-governmental organizations in Ghana worked with law enforcement officers to rescue 842 victims of human trafficking in the nation.
Out of the 842 victims rescued, the Gender Ministry's comprehensive Trauma Informed Care Unit reintegrated 812 of them.
The adult shelter opened on February 1, 2019, and 178 adult female victims of trafficking were catered for.
The shelter is currently accepting and caring for victims, and the children's shelter, which opened in August 2020 and has already cared for 98 children, is still accepting and caring for them.
Hajia Lariba Abudu, the deputy minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, made the announcement today, Thursday, April 28th, 2022, during the opening of the Human Trafficking Secretariat and Trauma Informed Care Center at the Human Trafficking Secretariat in Accra.
"In all, 108 instances were reported and investigated," Hajia Abudu said in her keynote presentation, "42 cases of sex trafficking, 60 cases of labor trafficking, and six cases of other linked crimes that started as human trafficking offenses."
"A total of 34 cases were referred to court for prosecution; out of them, 22 cases involving 37 individuals were prosecuted, and we obtained 17 convictions for the country," she continued.
The European Union funded the Human Trafficking Secretariat and Trauma Informed Care Center, which was built in conjunction with Expertise France.
The purpose of the center is to allow victims of human trafficking to submit their cases so that action or response may be taken quickly.
This project is part of the Ministry's Social Protection agenda, which aims to provide effective and efficient protection for Ghanaians.
The following is Hajia Abudu's complete address:
HON. HAJIA LARIBA ABUDU, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN, AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, DELIVERED A KEYNOTE ADDRESS DURING THE COMMISSIONING OF THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SECRETARIAT AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE CENTER ON THE 28TH OF APRIL, 2022 AT 10:00AM AT THE HT SECRETARIAT, OSU.
His Excellency Irchad R. Razaaly, Head of the European Union Delegation
Her Excellency, Anne Sophie Avé, French Ambassador
Expertise France Director Jeremie Pellet of the France Office
Radhia Oudjani, Director of the Expertise France Office's Governance, Justice, and Human Rights Department
Expertise France Headquarters in France, Matiada Ngalikpima, Project Coordinator
Allessandro Rabiossi, Regional Director for the Expertise France Project in Abidjan, and the Abidjan team
The Australian High Commission and the US Embassy deployed representatives.