7 out of 10 human trafficking cases in Ghana never reach prosecution — JoyNews Research
Every year, hundreds of human trafficking cases are reported across Ghana. Children are rescued from forced labour on Lake Volta, young women are exploited through deceptive recruitment schemes, and vulnerable people are trafficked across borders under promises of better opportunities.
According to JoyNews Research, 7 out of every 10 human trafficking cases reported in Ghana over the past nine years never reach prosecution. This means that authorities recorded 1,264 cases from 2017-2025, but only 361 progressed to prosecution, and only 158 resulted in convictions. The majority of victims — 7,407 identified between 2017 and 2025 — are never given a chance to have their rights addressed in court.
The research reveals that prosecution rates have fluctuated significantly year by year, with a low of 13% in 2021 and peaks of 43.1% and 47.7% in 2023 and 2025. The highest victim count was in 2025, with almost a third of all victims identified since 2017, and a ratio of about 10.5 victims per case, nearly double the average ratio in other years.
Experts suggest that logistical challenges, such as travel to remote communities and gathering evidence, often hinder investigations and result in insufficient evidence for prosecution.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
