Topic: 2024-Human Trafficking
Country: Ghana
Delegate Name: Lidija Habekovic
Ghana is committed to the eradication and condemnation of human trafficking. With the passing of the Human Trafficking Act, along with other preventative measures, Ghana has taken steps to ensure that human trafficking has no presence within its borders. While currently the complete eradication of trafficking is still in progress, Ghana has taken rigorous steps to eliminate these practices within the country.
Ghana recognizes that human trafficking and exploitation are prevalent throughout the country. Child trafficking in Ghana is particularly common, with a study conducted in 2016 showing that 35.2% of households in the communities surveyed consisted of children who had been exploited. Many children are subjected to forced labor in fishing, gold mining, and other industries. Other Ghanaians, usually women, as well as immigrants from other West African countries, are subjected to sex trafficking. Concerned by these statistics, Ghana has implemented a Human Trafficking Act, which promotes the welfare of trafficking victims, as well as conducting investigations to prosecute individuals involved in the trafficking of Ghanaians. Additionally, the Ghana Police Service’s Anti Human Trafficking Unit was established in 2008. The AHTU seeks to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to crack down on human trafficking rings, as well as adopt methods to prevent human trafficking.
While these efforts have proven to be effective, Ghana recognizes progress can still be made. Human trafficking is still going on in Ghana, which Ghana believes is completely unacceptable. Ghana is committed to the elimination of human trafficking and will not stop fighting until it is completely eradicated.
Ghana has several suggestions regarding the prevention of human trafficking and identification and support of victims. To ensure that no victim is being trafficked into the country, Ghana proposes mandatory screenings for all who enter the country. To make sure that policies are up to date, Ghana proposes that nations revisit their current labor and trafficking-related laws. To provide shelter and assistance to victims, Ghana suggests increased funding for government and NGO-run shelters for trafficking victims, as well as creating an outlet for them to come forward; be it a hotline, website, or physical building they can go to. To secure justice for trafficking victims, Ghana urges nations to guarantee that perpetrators of human trafficking are receiving appropriate penalization, through educating judges and other levels of the judiciary system, as well as law enforcement, on the severity of human trafficking.
Ghana believes that progress can be made and observed through cooperation and agreement. Cooperation is crucial when discussing topics like that of human trafficking, and Ghana looks forward to working with willing nations to reach a solution that addresses all facets of this issue.
