Human rights NGO Challenging Heights has rescued 82 victims of human trafficking and forced labour in Ghana since the beginning of 2025, including 57 children exploited in the country’s fishing industry.

The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, also led to the rescue of 25 Nigerian girls trafficked across borders into Ghana for forced prostitution. All the rescued Nigerian nationals have since been repatriated, while the Ghanaian children have received rehabilitation and educational support.

“The victims included 31 boys and 26 girls rescued from the fishing industry,” said James Kofi Annan, President of Challenging Heights, in a press statement issued on Monday. “All the 25 Nigerian nationals who were rescued have been returned home.”

Challenging Heights, a survivor-led Ghanaian NGO, operates the country’s largest rehabilitation centre for trafficking victims. For the past two decades, the organisation has worked closely with the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department to combat human trafficking, rescuing thousands of children from forced labour in sectors including fishing, mining, and agriculture.

“We wish to commend the Ghana Police Service, especially the Criminal Investigations Department, for 20 years of relentless collaboration with Challenging Heights in addressing the human trafficking phenomena in Ghana,” Mr Annan stated.

According to the Global Slavery Index, over 49.6 million people globally are in modern slavery, including human trafficking. Of this number, more than 91,000 are estimated to be in Ghana. The situation is especially dire on Lake Volta, where it is estimated that over 21,000 children are trapped in forced labour.

In light of the ongoing crisis, Challenging Heights is calling on the government to increase its commitment to fighting trafficking. “We would like to appeal to the Finance Minister to allocate a minimum of GH?20 million to the Human Trafficking Fund in the upcoming 2026 budget,” the statement read.

The organisation is also urging the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to initiate amendments to the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), to ensure it reflects the current complexities of the crime.

“Human trafficking is an offence punishable under Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, 2005. When convicted, offenders could go to prison for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years,” Mr Annan noted. “We take this opportunity to appeal to the general public to desist from any acts that would force any person into becoming a victim of trafficking.”