The International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana has congratulated the Government of Ghana and stakeholders in the anti-trafficking sector following the country’s upgrade from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
The recognition reflects Ghana’s progress in combating human trafficking through stronger law enforcement, improved victim identification and support, and increased collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and local communities.
Ghana’s Tier 1 ranking indicates that the country meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons under the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
According to the TIP Report, Ghana prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers and secured 28 convictions during the reporting period. Authorities also identified 2,331 trafficking victims and referred all identified victims to appropriate services.
The government further increased funding for victim assistance and anti-trafficking initiatives and strengthened training and international cooperation.
Despite this progress, IJM Ghana has cautioned that human trafficking remains a serious concern, particularly for children exposed to forced labour in fishing, domestic work, agriculture, street hawking, artisanal mining, quarrying, and other sectors. Child trafficking on Lake Volta also remains a significant challenge.
The growing use of technology to facilitate trafficking through fraudulent job offers, online scams, and deceptive migration opportunities presents additional concerns requiring stronger prevention and law enforcement measures.
Commenting on the development, IJM’s Director for the West Africa Programme, Anita Budu, described the achievement as a testament to collective action and national commitment.
“Ghana’s elevation to Tier 1 status is a significant national achievement that reflects the power of coordinated action and collective commitment. We commend the Government of Ghana and all stakeholders whose dedication has contributed to this milestone,” she said.
She added that the achievement should inspire renewed efforts to protect vulnerable people and hold perpetrators accountable.
“At the same time, we recognize that thousands of children and vulnerable adults remain at risk of trafficking and exploitation. This achievement should inspire us to work even harder to ensure every child is safe, every survivor is protected, and every trafficker is held accountable,” she stated.
IJM Ghana emphasized that sustaining the achievement will require increased funding for child protection and anti-trafficking programmes, stronger survivor support services, improved shelter capacity, specialized training for frontline officers, and greater attention to vulnerable communities.
In a statement, IJM Ghana commended key institutions, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), for their contributions to the country’s anti-trafficking efforts.
The organization also recognized Parliament, the media, traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, development partners, and citizens for their roles in raising awareness, reporting suspected trafficking cases, and protecting vulnerable people.
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