The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection’s (MoGCSP) Human Trafficking Secretariat joined the international community in commemorating Blue Day with a vigorous health walk in Accra as part of global efforts to prevent human trafficking.
The event, with the theme “The Human Trafficking Law @ 20: The Journey So Far in Ghana,” sought to increase public awareness of human trafficking and to draw attention to Ghana’s continuous efforts to combat this contemporary form of slavery, especially in light of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694).
The celebration offered a chance to consider the achievements, advancements, difficulties, and future directions in Ghana’s twenty-year battle against human trafficking.
Wearing blue T-shirts as a sign of unity against human trafficking, participants included MoGCSP employees, representatives from security agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and members of the general public. The gathering took place early in the morning.
With signs that read, “Stop Human Trafficking Now!” “Protect Victims, Punish Offenders,” and “Support the Human Trafficking Fund,” the marchers attracted the attention of bystanders and passersby as they marched along main streets.
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, stressed the value of teamwork in the fight against human trafficking in her keynote speech.
Although Ghana has made significant strides in victim protection, public awareness, and policy formulation over the years, she pointed out that more work has to be done, especially in the areas of law enforcement, cross-border collaboration, and survivor rehabilitation.
The Minister emphasized that the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), is being effectively implemented with the help of the Human Trafficking National Plan of Action (NPA) 2022–2026, which was created by the Government through the Ministry.
The Ministry is dedicated to putting preventive measures into action through a variety of subject areas, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey emphasized.
She urged participants to “say something when you see something,” noting that public vigilance is crucial in combating the menace.
Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, spoke at the ceremony and thanked development partners for their steadfast assistance in the fight against human trafficking.
She urged people to support continued community-level awareness campaigns and to report suspected incidents of human trafficking.
In order to address the underlying causes of trafficking, which include poverty, ignorance, and a lack of economic prospects, the Chief Director also urged greater cooperation between government organizations, non-governmental organizations, the media, and traditional leaders.
Key partners, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, and CNACT, gave solidarity remarks at the end of the walk, reaffirming their support for Ghana’s anti-trafficking initiatives.
A timely reminder of the perils of human trafficking and the necessity of consistent efforts to prevent, protect, and prosecute was provided by the 2025 Blue Day commemoration.
MoGCSP continues to raise national awareness and reaffirm its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons nationwide through events like the health walk.
Source: newsthemegh.com