Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Ghana (Ratification: 1957)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken to overcome the difficulties encountered in terms of enhancing the efficiency of the law enforcement mechanism, and providing victims of trafficking with appropriate assistance.

The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 which establishes the Human Trafficking Management Board. This latter is mandated to make recommendations for a National Plan of Action 2013–18 against trafficking in persons, monitor and report on its progress, and provide assistance on the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. In addition, the Board is mandated to liaise with government agencies and organizations to promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking, as well as conduct research on international and regional standards on trafficking in persons. The Committee also notes that complaints regarding trafficking from the public are received by the Anti-Trafficking Unit which is established at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service. This Unit investigates arrests and prosecutes all offenders under the Trafficking Act. The Committee further notes the Government’s indications that 25 cases of trafficking were reported in 2012; ten cases are still under investigation; four prosecutions took place, and there was one conviction.

The Committee observes that, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in its concluding observations of November 2014, while noting the efforts undertaken by the country to prevent trafficking in women and girls and protect and rehabilitate victims (including the creation of a trafficking database and collaboration with local authorities), expressed concern that the country remains a source, transit and destination country for women and children trafficked mainly for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. The CEDAW is also concerned about the reported high incidence of internal trafficking of women and girls from rural areas, as well as the limited number of convictions under the Human Trafficking Act, 2005, partly owing to the low level of reporting and inadequate identification of victims of trafficking (CEDAW/C/GHA/CO/6-7, paragraph 28).

The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the National Action Plan 2013–18 against trafficking in persons, specifically the results achieved particularly with regard to the Human Trafficking Management Board in securing the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking. Further noting that the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service investigates and prosecutes all offenders under the Human Trafficking Act, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and the penalties imposed with regard to trafficking in persons.