A human rights NGO, Challenging Heights, has rescued 82 victims of human trafficking and forced labour in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
Among those rescued were 57 Ghanaian children, comprising 31 boys and 26 girls, exploited in the fishing industry on Lake Volta.
Additionally, 25 Nigerian girls were rescued from cross-border forced prostitution and have since been repatriated. The rescued children are receiving rehabilitation and educational support.
In a press statement issued on Monday, August 4, 2025, President of Challenging Heights, James Kofi Annan, indicated that all the Nigerians rescued have since been repatriated, while the Ghanaian children have been provided rehabilitation and educational support.
“The victims included 31 boys and 26 girls rescued from the fishing industry. All the 25 Nigerian nationals who were rescued have been returned home.”
Challenging Heights, a survivor-led Ghanaian NGO, operates the country’s largest rehabilitation centre for trafficking victims. For the past two decades, the organisation has worked closely with the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department to combat human trafficking, rescuing thousands of children from forced labour in sectors including fishing, mining, and agriculture.
The NGO lauded the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for its massive contribution in collaborating with them to fight child trafficking in the country.
“We wish to commend the Ghana Police Service, especially the Criminal Investigations Department, for 20 years of relentless collaboration with Challenging Heights in addressing the human trafficking phenomena in Ghana,” the statement added.
The Global Slavery Index says over 49.6 million people globally are in modern slavery, including human trafficking. Of this number, more than 91,000 are estimated to be in Ghana. The situation is especially dire on Lake Volta, where it is estimated that over 21,000 children are trapped in forced labour.
Challenging Heights is therefore calling on the government to deepen its efforts in fighting the menace.
“We would like to appeal to the Finance Minister to allocate a minimum of GH₵20 million to the Human Trafficking Fund in the upcoming 2026 budget,” the statement read.
The organisation is also calling on the Gender Ministry to amend the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), to ensure it reflects the current complexities of the crime.
“Human trafficking is an offence punishable under Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, 2005. When convicted, offenders could go to prison for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years,” the statement noted further, urging the public to refrain from any acts of human trafficking.
“We take this opportunity to appeal to the general public to desist from any acts that would force any person into becoming a victim of trafficking.”
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