Eighty-two victims of human trafficking and forced labour have been rescued in Ghana this year, according to human rights group Challenging Heights.
The organisation said the rescues, carried out in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, included 57 children – 31 boys and 26 girls – who had been trafficked into the country’s fishing industry, particularly around Lake Volta.
The remaining 25 victims, all Nigerian girls, were freed from forced prostitution in a cross-border operation. They have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
Challenging Heights said the rescued Ghanaian children are currently receiving rehabilitation and educational support.
The NGO, which is led by survivors of trafficking, operates Ghana’s largest rehabilitation centre for victims of trafficking and has worked alongside the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for over two decades.
“We commend the CID for 20 years of relentless collaboration in fighting human trafficking in Ghana,” the group said.
According to the Global Slavery Index, more than 49.6 million people are currently living in modern slavery worldwide, with over 91,000 believed to be in Ghana. Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest artificial lakes, is estimated to host over 21,000 children in forced labour.
Challenging Heights is calling on Ghana’s Minister of Finance to allocate at least GH¢20 million to the Human Trafficking Fund in the upcoming 2026 national budget.
The group also urged the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to amend the country’s Human Trafficking Act (2005) to reflect current challenges.
Under the current law, traffickers face between five and 25 years in prison if convicted.
The NGO is also appealing to the public to avoid participating in or supporting any form of exploitation linked to human trafficking.
