Govt to deepen public education on human trafficking
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking stronger collaboration with the Information Services Department (ISD), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and civil society organisations to intensify public education on human trafficking and the tactics used to lure Ghanaians abroad.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the collaboration would target the Ghanaian public, particularly the youth, who were increasingly being approached with overseas employment and travel opportunities.
He said the education campaign would help citizens become more familiar with the modus operandi of human trafficking organisations and enable them to identify potentially fraudulent recruitment schemes.
Mr Ablakwa made the remarks at a media briefing in Accra on Monday.
He said the Ministry was working with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to publish a comprehensive list of certified and licensed recruitment agencies to help prospective travellers determine which agencies were recognised by government.
He urged Ghanaians to check whether recruitment agencies offering them overseas employment were licensed before accepting such offers.
The Minister said the list had also been shared with international partners to enable receiving countries to identify recruitment agencies that were not certified or recognised by the Ghanaian authorities.
He said the Government was also collaborating with the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen scrutiny of Ghanaians leaving the country, particularly those travelling in groups.
Mr Ablakwa explained that the new framework was intended to address gaps in the system and prevent vulnerable citizens from being taken abroad through questionable recruitment arrangements.
He also urged Ghanaians to seek verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ghana’s diplomatic missions before accepting travel opportunities.
He said the Ministry maintained hotlines and email platforms through which citizens could seek assistance and obtain appropriate travel advice.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad had a mandate to conduct due diligence and could assist citizens in determining whether organisations and opportunities in foreign countries were credible.
He encouraged citizens to take advantage of Ghana’s diplomatic presence across the world, including missions with concurrent accreditation to countries where Ghana did not have a permanent diplomatic mission.
Mr Ablakwa said the Ministry would continue to publish travel advisories on its websites, social media platforms and other outlets, and urged the public to pay attention to the information provided.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
