By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, July 15, GNA – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a 15-member Human Trafficking Management Board in Accra to strengthen efforts against trafficking.
The Board, chaired by sector Minister Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, includes Madam Abena Annobea Asare (Secretary), Madam Elizabeth Sackeyfio, Madam Henrietta E. M. Nikoi, Madam Lydia Quarcoo, Madam Deborah Adjei Djanie, Mr. Emmanuel Otibu Darko Korankye, and Mrs. Bertha Badu-Agyei.
The others are Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Mr. Eric Kweku Bonney, Mr. Hakeem Mumuni Duwiejua, Madam Agnes Aknmopoyah Abolimpoh, and Mr. Frederick Obeng Abekah.
The rest include Mr. Benjamin Akyena Brentuo, Madam Pamela Yaa Pomaah Codjo, Mr. Ephraim Nii Tan Sackey, Ms. Sophia Kudjordji, and Mr. Michael Terkpetey Narh.
Dr Lartey said Ghana remained a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, describing it as “a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights,” particularly affecting women and children.
She said the Board’s inauguration would enable the Ministry to fulfil its mandate and foster collaboration to protect the vulnerable.
The Minister noted that the previous Board had helped Ghana maintain its Tier 2 ranking on the US Trafficking in Persons Report for seven consecutive years.
“I urge Board members to work hard with the Ministry to move to tier one since no single agency can tackle this challenge alone,” she stated.
The annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report classifies countries into four tiers based on their efforts to combat human trafficking.
Tier 1 includes countries that fully meet the minimum standards set by the TIP Act for the elimination of trafficking.
Tier 2 comprises countries that do not fully comply but are making significant efforts toward meeting those standards.
Tier 2 Watch List includes countries under Tier 2 that require special monitoring due to a high or rising number of trafficking victims, insufficient evidence of increased anti-trafficking efforts, or reliance on future commitments to improve.
Tier 3 is reserved for countries that neither meet the minimum standards nor demonstrate significant efforts to do so. These countries may face non-humanitarian, non-trade-related sanctions from the United States.
Dr. Lartey emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts to enable Ghana to get to the top tier TIP ranking
She said members were selected for their technical expertise and would support policy advice, investigations, prosecutions, and strategy development under the Human Trafficking Act.
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, pledged the Board’s commitment to ensuring public safety.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey