Ghana to lose $600m over human trafficking if…

Ghana stands the risk of losing some $ 600 million annually from the United States aid if it continually fails in its fight against human trafficking. The country is also likely to remain on the tier 2 watch-list for the third consecutive time following the US State Departments human trafficking report for 2016. Interior minister, Ambrose Dery, expressed these fears at the handing over of six vehicles to the police anti-human trafficking unit in Accra. In spite of the sustained fight against the menace, Ghana continues to be considered as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. The inability to rescue victims, arrest, prosecution and convict perpetrators, led to Ghana dropping from tier 2 to the tier 2 watch-list in the US department on trafficking in-persons report for 2014 and 2015. The police anti-human trafficking unit in February this year, rescued at least 24 children from the Volta lake but Chief of Missions at the International Migration Organization (IMO), Sylvia Lopez-Ekrah, says efforts should not be tailored towards reversing the ranking but rather the welfare, safety and protection of the vulnerable. The IMO, later pledged support for the fight by providing six vehicles, computers and its accessories valued at 185,000 dollars to support the work of the anti-human trafficking unit of the police service. The support formed part of the child protection compact agreement reached between the governments of Ghana and the United States of America in 2015. It is also part of a grant of 5 million dollars by the US government to support Ghana in the fight against human trafficking over a five-year period. The Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, called for a sustained and collaborated effort in the fight against human trafficking. Minister of interior Ambrose Dery feared a third time tier 2 watch-list would spell doom for the country’s fight against the menace. The vehicles are to support the anti-human trafficking units in the Greater Accra, central and Volta regions. By 3news.com|Ghana Twitter: @Newsontv3]]>