The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson has disclosed that Ghana risks losing the $500 million Millennium Challenge Compact fund, if government fails to fight human trafficking.
The US was committing a $5 million grant over a period of four years to fight the phenomenon, but the Ambassador contended that Ghana’s unsatisfactory action against the phenomenon may drag the US’ commitment to release the facility.
The Ambassador is worried that Ghana failed to improve the pace of fighting human trafficking, lamenting on lack of prosecution for child trafficking offences.
Speaking at a two-day workshop for Judges on human trafficking, Ambassador Jackson said Ghana falls short of the fight against human trafficking and must take steps to ensure it stamps out the menace.
Almost 46 million people globally are living as slaves, trafficked into exploitation, sold for sex or trapped in debt bondage, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index.
The Volta Region serves as “the nexus of trafficking” in Ghana, he noted, adding “if we go to the Volta Region, I can buy five children for what it costs to buy an outboard motor for a boat, and no country is immune.”
“…For too long, Ghana’s courts have not convicted people for this crime. There are plenty of victims so there must be criminals as well. What this means is that, Ghana does not meet the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons,” Mr. Jackson noted.
