Communications specialist with the International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana, Ernest Kojo Manu, has called for stronger government commitment to the implementation of Ghana’s National Plan of Action on Human Trafficking, stressing the need for improved institutional capacity, adequate funding and stronger protection for victims and survivors.
Speaking at a one-day training on Child Protection, Human Trafficking and Policy Advocacy, Mr Manu said the National Plan of Action is currently under review and provides an opportunity to address gaps in Ghana’s response to human trafficking and child exploitation.
The training was organised by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), in collaboration with IJM Ghana, on Monday, 28th September 2026.
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Mr Manu urged journalists, particularly those covering Parliament, to closely monitor the review process and any subsequent legislative action to ensure that proposed reforms address existing loopholes.
The National Plan of Action, he said, provides for measures including the training of government officials and strengthening institutions responsible for preventing and responding to human trafficking.
He, however, expressed concern that some personnel recruited into the Department of Social Welfare are not qualified social workers, arguing that such gaps could affect the quality of services provided to vulnerable children.
“NGOs cannot solve that problem because it is government that must recruit,” he said, urging the media to highlight institutional challenges affecting child protection.
Mr Manu also said Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, enacted about 20 years ago, requires amendment to reflect emerging challenges.
He disclosed that the Gender Ministry had previously indicated that the amendment process would begin, with proposed changes eventually expected to come before Parliament.
He urged journalists to follow the process closely and scrutinise proposed changes to ensure stronger legal protection for children and trafficking survivors.
He also drew attention to ongoing consideration of the Children’s Act, particularly proposed changes to the minimum age for work.
Mr Manu cautioned that any reduction in the threshold must be carefully examined because of the potential risk of exposing children to exploitation, particularly in sectors such as cocoa production.
Funding for Ghana’s anti-trafficking response was another concern raised by Mr Manu.
He said the Human Trafficking Fund supports agencies and provides assistance to victims and survivors, including healthcare, education, shelter and other forms of support.
He disclosed that GH¢1 million was allocated to the fund last year but was reduced to GH¢500,000 during the mid-year review, with actual disbursement reaching only GH¢250,000.
He said advocacy efforts subsequently resulted in the allocation being restored to GH¢1 million this year.
Mr Manu urged journalists to monitor annual reports on the fund to establish how much is allocated, disbursed and received by beneficiaries.
He further urged the media to work with state institutions and NGOs to investigate trafficking cases and allow survivors to tell their stories, while protecting the identities and dignity of child survivors.
Also speaking at the training, lawyer Nana Efua Nyamekye Amanfu focused on Ghana’s legal framework for combating human trafficking, explaining the key provisions of the Human Trafficking Act, the Children’s Act and Human Trafficking Regulations.
She said understanding the law is important for identifying trafficking cases, conducting effective investigations and ensuring that victims, particularly children, receive appropriate protection.
According to Amanfu, human trafficking has three essential elements: the act, the means and the purpose.
She explained that acts covered by the law include recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, training and receiving persons.
The means may involve threats, force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or exploitation of vulnerability, while the purpose is exploitation.
Amanfu stressed that actual exploitation does not necessarily have to take place before a trafficking offence can be established where the required elements are present.
She also explained that under Section 4 of the Human Trafficking Act, the consent of a child, parent or guardian cannot be used as a defence in a prosecution for child trafficking in circumstances covered by the provision.
On investigations, Amanfu urged investigators to look beyond statements from suspected traffickers and gather evidence from victims, drivers, border officials, landlords and other people who may know the circumstances surrounding recruitment or movement.
According to her, investigators must establish the acts involved, the means used and the intended purpose of exploitation.
She clarified that human trafficking does not necessarily require movement across international borders, and that transfer can occur over a short distance, while harbouring, training or receiving a person for exploitation may also fall within the scope of trafficking under the law, depending on the circumstances.
She urged journalists and other stakeholders to understand the legal elements of trafficking to ensure that cases are accurately identified, investigated and reported.