Ghana scores low in three rows in the fight against human trade Ghana scores low in three rows in the fight against human trade

Accra, June 28, GNA - Ghana still remains weak in the fight against human trade, and thus, stands the risk of losing significant assistance from the United States.   

The country was ranked as a Tier two watch list country for the third time in the United States (US) Department of State’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), a statement issued by Sara Veldhuizen Stealy of the US Embassy has said.

This implies that the nation did not meet the minimum standards for preventing trafficking in persons and, thus, failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to fight human trade.      

The Report was released on Tuesday, June 27, by the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on the theme: “Enhancing Criminal Accountability and Addressing Challenges in Prosecution Efforts.”

The 2017 TIP Report, which aims at stimulating actions and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern slavery also includes narratives for 187 countries and territories, including the US.

However, the statement said, Ghana had made significant efforts towards the development of a robust plan to combat the menace and that was why it remained in that position, which was commendable. 

 “The Trafficking Victims Protection Act provides for a waiver to remain on the Tier two Watch List for a third consecutive year if the government develops a national plan of action to combat human trafficking,” it indicated.

The plan, if the country “dictates sufficient resources for its implementation would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards”.     

The statement called on government to direct its energies towards the implementation of the plan saying, Ghana was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier three and it could be subject to an automatic downgrade to Tier three in the 2018 TIP Report. 

“If Ghana is downgraded to Tier 3, it will become subject to restrictions on US assistance,’’ it threatened.     

The report called on government to build the capacity of the judicial system to bring perpetrators of human trade to the fury of the law and champion prudent mechanisms to ensure a comprehensive trauma-informed care and reintegration services for children in government-operated shelters, including child sex trafficking victims.

The statement assured that, the US would continue to support Ghana to make it more viable in the fight against the menace, particularly in the areas of funding for the implementation of all necessary anti-trafficking programmes.

The US is funding a number of programmes in Ghana to address trafficking and child labour. In June 2015, the former President John Dramani Mahama and then-Ambassador Gene Cretz signed the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership.

The CPC is a jointly developed, multi-year plan aimed at bolstering current efforts of Ghana and the civil society to address child sex trafficking and forced child labour within Ghana. 

The Partnership awarded $5 million in US foreign assistance to the International Organisation for Migration and NGO Free the Slaves to combat forced child labour and child sex trafficking in the Volta, Central, and Greater Accra regions.

GNA

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