Challenging Heights has rescued 22 children from human trafficking and forced labour in Ghana, in what the anti-slavery organisation describes as part of a growing and increasingly complex crisis.
The latest operation by the non-governmental organisation (NGO), carried out over the weekend in collaboration with security agencies and the Department of Social Welfare, involved 11 boys and 11 girls aged between seven and 13. The children were removed from exploitative conditions, including trafficking linked to the fishing industry.
The intervention adds to a broader pattern of rescues by the organisation, which says trafficking remains a persistent threat, particularly in vulnerable communities around Lake Volta and across border networks.
Rising trafficking concerns
Challenging Heights reported that in 2025 alone, it worked with partners to rescue 201 victims of human trafficking. These comprised 90 boys and 111 girls, reflecting what it describes as a gender-balanced but deeply entrenched problem.
Of that number, 120 victims were rescued from forced labour in the fishing sector, especially on Lake Volta, while 81 were Nigerian nationals trafficked into Ghana for exploitation in prostitution and cybercrime activities.
The group warned of an emerging trend involving an increasing number of victims being trafficked from Nigeria into Ghana, raising concerns about cross-border criminal networks and the evolving nature of exploitation.
“In recent times, Challenging Heights has observed a worrying trend of a massive number of victims trafficked from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, into Ghana, for various forms of exploitations,” the organisation noted, adding that many are forced into prostitution and cybercriminal ventures.
Two decades of intervention
Since its establishment in 2005, Challenging Heights says it has rescued a total of 2,888 individuals from trafficking and related forms of exploitation. Beyond rescues, the organisation has also supported thousands of women and young people through livelihood programmes across 14 regions.
All rescued children are enrolled in rehabilitation programmes at the organisation’s centre, where they receive care, counselling and support aimed at reintegration into society.
The group has positioned itself as a leading voice in Ghana’s anti-trafficking efforts, combining direct rescue operations with advocacy at both community and national levels.
Call for urgent support
Despite the progress made, Challenging Heights has raised concerns about limited resources available to state institutions mandated to combat human trafficking.
The organisation acknowledged the role of agencies including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the Navy and various district assemblies, but stressed that their effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding.
“These government agencies, who are mandated by law, to address the issues of human trafficking in Ghana, are critically under-resourced,” it said.
It is therefore calling on the government to allocate at least GH¢20 million to support anti-trafficking operations, warning that without sustained investment, efforts to curb the practice may be undermined.
The organisation emphasised that tackling trafficking requires coordinated national action, particularly in addressing root causes such as poverty, weak enforcement systems and cross-border criminal activity.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh