The Human Trafficking Secretariat (HTS) under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) in collaboration with Expertise France and funding from the European Union commissioned the HTS and Trauma Informed Care Center in Accra.
The state of the art and well equipped building aims to provide the HTS with adequate working environment to strengthen its efficiency in the coordination of actions against human trafficking in Ghana and to provide quality services to victims.
The Trauma Informed Care Center is also to ensure cases are handled in a timely manner and victims get a comprehensive care as much as possible.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Minister for MoGCSP, Hon. Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu indicated that issues of human trafficking continues to be a human right violation and a canker in the society that must be eliminated.
She said the building has come at the right time when victim care is central to combating human trafficking.
Hon. Lariba added that the partnership between Expertise France and the European Union has seen over 300 Law Enforcement Officers being trained to identify and prosecute offences of human trafficking.
She indicated that “the Ministry in collaboration with Law Enforcement Officers, Social Workers and NGOs Ghana in 2021 rescued 842 victims, gave comprehensive trauma informed care and has reintegrated 812 of them”.
The Deputy Minister was optimistic that the partnership with Expertise France and European Union will go a long way to reduce the incidence, strengthen government institutions and increase public knowledge on the issues of human trafficking.
Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director for the Ministry noted that comprehensive care for victims is one major priority as this will compliment the psycho social needs of victims by offering counselling services, walk in services and improving monitoring services on the vocational skills activities done for victims.
Trafficking she said is multifaceted and covers several situations from debt bondage, exploitation, organized crimes and many more.
To curb the incidence of trafficking, she said the Ministry together with its partners embarked on numerous community advocacy and engagements to educate the public on the dangers associated with human trafficking.
Dr. Afisah Zakariah thanked the European Union and Expertise France for their immense support to fight the incidence of human trafficking.
His Excellency, Irchad Razaaly, European Union Ambassador to Ghana said human trafficking is a global phenomenon which deprives especially women and children from achieving their future aspirations.
Trafficking in human beings according to him generates approximately 30 billion euros annually and is the third most widespread form of trafficking in the world.
“Every year, 2.5billion people, mainly women and children are victims of trafficking,” he said.
The EU Ambassador reiterates their commitment to support government to fight against human trafficking.
The General Director of Expertise France, Jérémie Pellet said the economic and security contexts at regional levels, climate change and community conflicts, push part of the population to seek better conditions elsewhere. This according to him results in child trafficking, labour exploitation, organ trade, domestic servitude and baby factories among others.
He urged stakeholders and the people of Ghana to support the efforts and commitment of government to curb and eradicate the issue of trafficking in Ghana.
The commissioning of the secretariat and official handing over was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties involved in the project.
