The West Africa Director of International Justice Mission (IJM), Anita Budu, has called for strengthened collaboration, increased public awareness, and improved funding to combat human trafficking in Ghana and across the sub-region.
Speaking at the media launch of “Blue Day” ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, she said IJM is partnering with the Human Trafficking Secretariat to intensify advocacy and action against trafficking networks that continue to exploit vulnerable people.
Addressing the gathering, which included the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, government officials, MPs, civil society actors, and the media, Ms. Budu highlighted IJM’s mandate as a global human rights organization working with governments and justice institutions to protect people in poverty from violence, including trafficking and child exploitation.
She cited a recent case reported by The Ghanaian Times in July 2025, involving 76 young Ghanaians who were allegedly lured with promises of football contracts abroad.
According to her, the victims were recruited through social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, only to be trafficked to Nigeria where their documents were seized and they were held in overcrowded conditions.
“They were forced to call their families to demand money for fake training and processing fees. Some were even compelled into cyber fraud,” she said, describing the situation as a clear case of trafficking rather than mere deception.
Ms. Budu noted that through collaboration between the Ghana Police Service, Interpol, and Nigerian authorities, the victims were traced across multiple locations, leading to arrests and their eventual return home.
While commending the rescue efforts, she stressed that the case exposed significant gaps in prevention and protection systems, particularly the misuse of digital platforms by traffickers.
She urged stronger awareness creation to prevent similar incidents, adding that the media plays a critical role in fighting trafficking.
“You are not just storytellers; you are first responders to truth,” she said, encouraging journalists to report responsibly to help break silence, reduce stigma, and support justice processes.
Ms. Budu further appealed for increased financial support for anti-trafficking interventions, calling on government to adequately resource the Human Trafficking Fund and encouraging contributions from institutions and individuals.
“Even the strongest systems cannot function without resources,” she emphasized, adding that funding is needed for prevention, law enforcement, survivor care, and prosecution of offenders.
She said the 2026 theme, “Human Trafficking Can End: The Time is Now – Blow the Whistle on Sports Trafficking,” is timely given the growing exploitation of sports-related opportunities to lure victims.
She concluded by calling for sustained collective action against trafficking, stating: “Let us work together until all are free.”
