By Michael Pepsin Avorgah, GNA
Aflao (V/R), July 31, GNA — The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Aflao Sector Command, in collaboration with key partners, has intensified efforts to combat human trafficking through stakeholder engagement and public education at the Aflao border.
The initiative forms part of activities to mark the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, on the theme “Trapped Behind the Scam,” which highlights the growing trend of trafficked victims being coerced into online fraud and other forms of forced criminality.
The programme, organised by the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit of the GIS, with support from the International Centre for Safe Migration (ICSM), the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Sisters’ Foundation (HDRSF), Tali Takum and NIMBUS foundation, brought together transport operators, immigration personnel, and community stakeholders.
Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCOI) Mark Asamoah Boakye, Aflao Sector Commander, said the unique nature of the Aflao border required strong collaboration with local actors, particularly transport operators, to effectively tackle trafficking.
He explained that the porous and busy nature of the border, which connected directly to Togo’s capital, made it difficult to distinguish between travellers, thereby increasing the risk of trafficking.
“If we do not engage stakeholders such as driver unions, motor riders, and border communities, our work becomes extremely difficult because these are the people who facilitate movement across the corridor,” he said.
DCOI Asamoah Boakye noted that drivers often serve as the link between migrants and their destinations, making them critical partners in identifying and intercepting potential trafficking victims and perpetrators.
He explained that the Service had introduced a six-month capacity-building programme for officers at the sector to strengthen their knowledge and response to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Justice Kudzo Normeshie, who serves as a focal person for the partner organisations, said the collaboration was necessary because of Aflao’s strategic position within the ECOWAS sub-region.
He stressed that trafficking often occurred across borders and called on stakeholders to play active roles in identifying and reporting suspicious movements.
He further drew attention to trafficking activities in illegal mining communities, noting that many victims, including women and children, remained trapped in exploitative conditions with limited rescue interventions.
He called on the government and security agencies to expand their focus beyond environmental concerns in such areas to include the protection, rescue, and reintegration of victims, as well as the arrest and prosecution of traffickers.
Mr Cephas Kudzo Exe, the Secretary of the Transport Union Council Aflao (TUCA), speaking on behalf of drivers, pledged the commitment of transport operators to support the fight against trafficking.
He said although the driver’s primary focus was on transporting passengers for income, they had come to appreciate their responsibility to ensure that they did not unknowingly aid criminal activities.
“We are ready to assist by being more observant and reporting suspicious persons to immigration officers, even if it affects our business,” he said.
Mr Exe noted that the engagement had strengthened cooperation between drivers and immigration officers and created a platform for reporting and addressing trafficking-related concerns.
The collaborating organisations, including ICSM and HDRSF, have over the years supported border communities through awareness creation, capacity building for frontline officers, and reintegration programmes for trafficking victims.
Participants expressed optimism that strengthened collaboration among stakeholders would help curb human trafficking and enhance security along the Aflao border.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo