The report indicated that the government had made key achievements during the reporting period, including prosecuting and convicting more traffickers, identifying more victims and referring them to support services.
It also highlighted increased cooperation with foreign governments to investigate trafficking cases, particularly online scam operations linked to fraudulent recruitment and forced labour.
βIn 2025, the government investigated 222 trafficking cases, prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers and convicted 28 traffickers,β the report said.
The convictions comprised 14 sex traffickers and 14 labour traffickers. The government investigated 273 cases in 2024, prosecuted 65 alleged traffickers and secured 25 convictions.
The report said authorities identified 2,331 trafficking victims in 2025, a significant increase from the 794 victims identified and referred to services in 2024.
Of the victims identified, 862 were Ghanaian nationals, and 1,469 were foreign nationals. Nigerians accounted for the largest group of foreign victims, with 896 identified.
The government also identified 567 Ghanaian victims exploited abroad and funded their voluntary repatriation. It screened 2,837 migrants returning from overseas for signs of trafficking and referred identified victims for assistance.
The report attributed the progress partly to increased funding for anti-trafficking activities, training for frontline officials and cooperation with international partners.
Ghana allocated GHΒ’3.452 million for direct victim services and assistance in 2025, up from GHΒ’2.85 million in 2024. It also allocated GHΒ’2.203 million for prevention activities.
Authorities collaborated with INTERPOL and foreign governments on law enforcement operations that led to the identification and repatriation of 756 foreign trafficking victims to their home countries.
The government also signed a memorandum of understanding with e-commerce company QNET to help identify, arrest and dismantle online scam operations associated with fraudulent recruitment and forced labour.
Despite the progress, the report identified persistent weaknesses in victim protection, recruitment regulation and the investigation of cyber-enabled trafficking.
Shelter capacity remained limited, particularly for adult male victims, while a shelter for adult female victims was inoperable during the reporting period.
The report also noted that Ghanaian law did not prohibit workers from paying recruitment fees, leaving migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation. Although the government discouraged licensed recruitment agencies from charging such fees, it did not report holding labour recruiters civilly or criminally liable for fraudulent recruitment.
Officials also lacked specialised training and equipment to investigate trafficking-related cybercrimes, while high staff turnover among police officers created gaps in knowledge and investigative capacity.
Trafficking remained prevalent in several sectors, including fishing, domestic work, agriculture, mining and online fraud. Children were particularly vulnerable to forced labour in fishing communities around Lake Volta and in the cocoa sector.
The report said traffickers also exploited Ghanaian nationals abroad, including through fraudulent recruitment schemes promising well-paid jobs in security and agriculture.
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