Ghana Immigration Service Steps Up Fight Against Human Trafficking
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has rescued more than 400 victims of human trafficking and arrested 29 suspects between January and July 2026 as it steps up efforts to combat the crime across the country.
The Deputy Comptroller General, Operations and Command Post, of the Ghana Immigration Service, DCGI Faisal Disu, disclosed this at the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Accra.
DCGI Faisal Disu said the latest operations by the Service had led to the rescue of 79 male victims on July 26 and 93 female victims on July 27. Seventy suspects were also arrested and 10 traffickers convicted during the operations.
According to him, Ghana’s location, transport network and migration patterns support trade and travel but are also exploited by trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
DCGI Faisal Disu said the GIS has strengthened its response through specialised training for frontline officers, intelligence-led operations, improved document examination and biometric systems, public education campaigns, and stronger collaboration with local and international partners.
He disclosed that Cambodia has emerged as a destination where some Ghanaians have been lured into cyber scam and forced labour operations through fraudulent job offers. Between January and July this year, more than 150 Ghanaian returnees from Cambodia had received assistance after falling victim to such schemes.
He also added that about 1,551 Ghanaian migrants had been safely returned from Libya during the same period through collaboration with international partners.
He called on communities to remain alert and report suspected trafficking cases to the Ghana Immigration Service or other law enforcement agencies, saying early reporting could save lives.
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department, Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, stated that the Criminal Investigation Department, through the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, continues to play a leading role in enforcing the acts.
“We have investigated cases involving child trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and transnational trafficking networks. In 2025 alone, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the CID headquarters received 127 cases, rescued 1,202 victims, sent 19 cases to court, and secured 8 convictions. Through sustained national efforts and partnerships, Ghana has maintained its Tier 2 ranking in the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons report,” she added.
She said the Ghana Police Service continues to strengthen these capabilities to identify victims, trace offenders, preserve digital evidence, and dismantle organised trafficking networks.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
