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Original Language
English
Number of Pages
164
Reference Number
PUB2020/030/R
Date of Publication

21 Sep 2020

Internal and Cross-Border Adult Sex Trafficking in Ghana

This study delves into the prevalence of the trafficking phenomenon in Ghana, its characteristics and the associated push and pull factors. The study aims to build a baseline for evidence‐based prevention and protection action plans. It characterizes the phenomenon qualitatively and quantitatively through a desk review, collection and analysis of reported cases of victims of sex trafficking and interviews with key informants at the district and community levels, covering the 2014–2018 period. The data used in this study is complemented by focus group discussions and questionnaires, among the methodologies.

The findings of the study provide a basis for the training of senior national focal points to enhance their capacities in responding to sex trafficking and in implementing the existing national counter-trafficking standard operating procedure. The findings will be disseminated among the targeted agencies, namely the Ghana Immigration Service; Ghana Police Service; the Department of Social Welfare; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, as well as other interested agencies.

  • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
    • 1.1 Background and context of study
    • 1.2 Purpose and scope of study
    • 1.3 Outline of report
  • CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
    • 2.1 Introduction
    • 2.2 Nature of sex trafficking from the global perspective
      • 2.2.1 Methods used by sex traffickers
      • 2.2.2 Push and pull factors of adult sex trafficking
    • 2.3 Sex trafficking in Ghana
      • 2.3.1 Methods used by sex traffickers in Ghana
      • 2.3.2 Push and pull factors of sex trafficking in Ghana
    • 2.4 Legal and institutional responses to sex trafficking
      • 2.4.1 Ghana’s response and experience
      • 2.4.2 Regional and global legislation as a response to human trafficking
    • 2.5 Existing Gaps in Human Trafficking Research
    • 2.6 Conclusion
  • CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.2 Data collection approach
      • 3.2.1 Sampling and sample size
      • 3.2.2 Data collection instruments
    • 3.3 Data management and analyses
    • 3.4 Ethical issues and considerations for respondents’ safety
  • CHAPTER 4: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS
    • 4.1 Introduction
    • 4.2 Characteristics of victims
      • 4.2.1 Age
      • 4.2.2 Education
      • 4.2.3 Employment
      • 4.2.4 Work experience
      • 4.2.5 Wages and incomes
      • 4.2.6 Dependants and children of respondents during the time of trafficking
    • 4.3 Characteristics of perpetrators and their firms
    • 4.4 Incidence and prevalence
    • 4.5 Operations of sex traffickers in Ghana
    • 4.5.1 Recruitment
    • 4.6 Contracts, conditions and promised benefits
    • 4.7 Trends and consequences in adult sex trafficking in Ghana
    • 4.9 Outlook of victims
  • CHAPTER 5: SITUATIONAL ANALYSES AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL
    • 5.0 Introduction
    • 5.1 Western Region
      • 5.1.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.1.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.1.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.1.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.1.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Western Region
      • 5.1.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Western Region
      • 5.1.7 Recommendations to curb adult sex trafficking in the Western Region
    • 5.2 Central Region
      • 5.2.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.2.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.2.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.2.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.2.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Central Region
      • 5.2.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Central Region
      • 5.2.7 Recommendations to curb adult sex trafficking in the Central Region
    • 5.3 Greater Accra Region
      • 5.3.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.3.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.3.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.3.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.3.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Greater Accra Region
      • 5.3.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Greater Accra Region
      • 5.3.7 Recommendations to curb adult sex trafficking in the Greater Accra Region
    • 5.4 Volta Region
      • 5.4.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.4.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.4.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.4.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.4.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Volta Region
      • 5.4.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Volta Region
      • 5.4.7 Recommendations to curb adult sex trafficking in the Volta Region
    • 5.5 Eastern Region
      • 5.5.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.5.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.5.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.5.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.5.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Eastern Region
      • 5.5.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Eastern Region
      • 5.5.7 Recommendations to curb adult sex trafficking in the Eastern Region
    • 5.6 Ashanti Region
      • 5.6.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.6.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.6.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.6.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.6.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Ashanti Region
      • 5.6.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Ashanti Region
      • 5.6.7 Recommendations to curb the menace of adult sex trafficking in the Ashanti Region
    • 5.7 Brong Ahafo Region
      • 5.7.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.7.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.7.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.7.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.7.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Brong Ahafo Region
      • 5.7.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Brong Ahafo Region
      • 5.7.7 Recommendations to curb the menace of adult sex trafficking in Brong Ahafo
    • 5.8 Northern Region
      • 5.8.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.8.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.8.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.8.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.8.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Northern Region
      • 5.8.6 Recommendations to curb the menace of adult sex trafficking in the Northern Region
    • 5.9 Upper East Region
      • 5.9.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.9.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.9.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.9.4 Method used by traffickers
      • 5.9.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Upper East Region
      • 5.9.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Upper East Region
      • 5.9.7 Recommendations to curb the menace of adult sex trafficking in the Upper East Region
    • 5.10 Upper West Region
      • 5.10.1 Perpetrators and victims
      • 5.10.2 Incidence and prevalence
      • 5.10.3 Domestic and transnational trends
      • 5.10.4 Methods used by traffickers
      • 5.10.5 Factors promoting adult sex trafficking in the Upper West Region
      • 5.10.6 Consequences of adult sex trafficking in the Upper West Region
      • 5.10.7 Recommendations to curb the menace of adult sex trafficking in the Upper West Region
  • CHAPTER 6: INSTITUTIONAL DYNAMICS
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 Department of Social Welfare
    • 6.3 Ghana Police Service
    • 6.4 Ghana Immigration Service
    • 6.5 Non-governmental Organizations and other International and Governmental Organizations
    • 6.6 Institutional collaboration and coordination
      • 6.6.1 Information sharing
      • 6.6.2 Investigation and trial of sex trafficking cases
      • 6.6.3 Referral of victims
      • 6.6.4 Infrastructural support
      • 6.6.5 Staff capacity–building programmes
    • 6.7 Institutional challenges in the fight against adult sex trafficking
      • 6.7.1 Finance
      • 6.7.2 Institutional specific challenges
      • 6.7.3 Personnel and capacity–building
      • 6.7.4 Information sharing and public perception about counter-trafficking institutions
  • CHAPTER 7: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
    • 7.1 Introduction
    • 7.2 Summary of findings
    • 7.3 Conclusions
    • 7.4 Recommendations
  • REFERENCES
  • APPENDICES