Accra: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a 15-member Human Trafficking Management Board in Accra to strengthen efforts against trafficking.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Board is chaired by sector Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey and includes members such as Madam Abena Annobea Asare (Secretary), Madam Elizabeth Sackeyfio, and several others with diverse expertise. The Board aims to address human trafficking issues, which Dr. Lartey identified as a critical challenge impacting women and children in Ghana.
Dr. Lartey emphasized that Ghana is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, highlighting it as a significant crime and violation of human rights. The Board's inauguration is intended to enhance the Ministry's ability to fulfill its mandate and foster collaboration to protect vulnerable populations.
The Minister noted that the previous Board's efforts had helped Ghana maintain its Tier 2 ranking on the US Trafficking in Persons Report for seven consecutive years. She urged the new Board members to strive for a Tier 1 ranking, acknowledging that addressing human trafficking requires a coordinated approach beyond a single agency's capabilities.
The annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report categorizes countries into four tiers based on their anti-trafficking efforts. Tier 1 includes countries that fully comply with the TIP Act's minimum standards, while Tier 2 comprises countries making significant efforts despite not fully complying. Tier 2 Watch List requires special monitoring, and Tier 3 is for countries failing to meet standards or demonstrate significant efforts, potentially facing non-humanitarian sanctions from the United States.
Dr. Lartey underscored the need for coordinated efforts to achieve a top-tier TIP ranking for Ghana. She mentioned that Board members were chosen for their technical expertise and would provide support in policy advice, investigations, prosecutions, and strategy development under the Human Trafficking Act.
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, committed the Board to ensuring public safety and combating human trafficking effectively.
