Ghana Survivor Network helps protect 43 children from trafficking
Summary:
 In their first year, a survivor-led campaign in Ghana has helped protect 43 children from trafficking!Â
Launched in mid-2024, the campaign focuses on equipping community leaders with the tools to identify, respond to, and prevent exploitation.
Survivors have been co-facilitating training, sharing their lived experiences, and helping shape policy messages. Many are also leading community outreach events and advocating for improved local interventions.
Godson, one of the survivor leaders, remarked, “We are not here for us, we are here for the children.”
In just one year, the survivor group has achieved tangible, life-changing impact. As well as protecting 43 children from trafficking, they have seen:
- 39 trafficking cases reported to the authorities. This reflects a crucial cultural shift: communities that were once held back by fear, stigma, or silence are now speaking up.
 - 1,026 community and campaign leaders identified and engaged, including faith leaders, teachers, traditional authorities, and local government officials from trafficking hotspots and high-risk communities.
 - 53 new survivors joining the group, expanding its reach and deepening its capacity. 
 - nearly 200 one-on-one engagements to build trust and identify champions. 
 - 120 community awareness events held to bring trafficking education to public spaces through storytelling. 
 - 249 house meetings held in trafficking-prone areas, helping families know the role they can play and sparking urgent conversations around protection. 
The campaign has already caught the attention of national stakeholders, with calls for its expansion and integration into local governance systems. 
Senior Lead for the Global Survivor Network in Ghana, IJM’s Josephine Aparo shared, “We are very much encouraged by the momentum: our target was ambitious, but the overwhelming response and commitment from communities and survivors has been inspiring.”    
With two years left in the campaign, the survivor network plans to exceed their original target and deepen its impact through regional collaborations and policy advocacy.