The Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a media campaign in Accra to raise awareness about human trafficking ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, 2025. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “The Human Trafficking Law @ 20: The Journey So Far in Ghana,” marking 20 years since the passage of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694).

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, emphasized the need for focused laws and border control systems that protect victims rather than criminalize them. She called on the media and civil society to join efforts to eliminate human trafficking in Ghana, highlighting the country’s role as a source, transit, and destination for trafficked persons.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, acknowledged progress made in addressing trafficking but stressed the need for sustained efforts, including policy development, inter-agency coordination, victim support, and awareness creation. She expressed concern about the misidentification of trafficking cases, particularly involving children.

The Director of the Human Trafficking Secretariat, Abena Anobea Asare, emphasized the importance of public awareness and knowledge-sharing in combating human trafficking. She called for a collective effort across legal, humanitarian, and security sectors to build a just, safe, and inclusive society.