Gender Ministry, IOM Train Tourism and Security Stakeholders to Tackle Human Trafficking
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Human Trafficking Secretariat has trained stakeholders from the tourism, travel and security sectors to better identify and respond to human trafficking risks.
The two-day Capacity Enhancement and Awareness Raising Session in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
on Human Trafficking in, Around and Through Tourism and Sports, held from Wednesday, September 30 to Thursday, October 1, 2026, examined vulnerabilities linked to movement, recruitment, tourism and sporting activities, and explored practical measures to prevent exploitation.
In a keynote address delivered on her behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Marian W. A. Kpakpah, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, warned that while tourism and travel connect people and destinations, traffickers could exploit these sectors and sporting events to facilitate the movement and exploitation of vulnerable persons.
She called for stronger awareness creation, ethical recruitment practices and effective referral mechanisms to identify persons at risk and provide appropriate protection and support.
Dr Lartey stressed that human trafficking is not only a criminal justice issue but also an assault on human dignity, freedom and fundamental human rights, requiring coordinated action across all sectors.
She emphasized the need for responsible and transparent recruitment for employment, travel and sporting opportunities, with individuals provided accurate information on opportunities, terms and conditions.
The programme brought together representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ghana Tourism Federation, travel and tour agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
Discussions covered human trafficking and its links with migration, tourism and child exploitation, victim identification and protection, the National Referral Mechanism, ethical recruitment, trafficking in sports, safeguarding and child protection.
Participants also undertook sector-specific risk mapping for tourism, sports, travel and recruitment, while exploring their roles in cascading knowledge and strengthening prevention, protection, referral and response measures.
The engagement is expected to enhance collaboration among government institutions, tourism and travel operators, sporting organisations, recruitment agencies, civil society organisations and development partners in addressing human trafficking risks across the sectors.
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
