Survivors lead the way at Ghana’s National Justice Conference
Summary:
Justice advocates across Ghana recently gathered for the fifth National Justice Conference, marking 20 years since Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act was passed.
The event celebrated a decade of partnership between IJM Ghana and government authorities – resulting in over 500 children brought to safety from trafficking and more than 70 perpetrators convicted.
At the heart of this progress is survivor-led advocacy. The Ghana Survivor Network (GSN), now 250 members strong, has pioneered survivor-informed approaches to justice. Survivors are co-facilitating trainings, shaping policy messages, and leading outreach events in their communities. Their lived experiences are driving change.
One powerful voice for change came from Godwin Dogbey who shared his journey from exploitation to being a leader of the movement. Godwin was trafficked into forced labour on Lake Volta when he was 17. After two years, he made a brave phone call to his aunt, who alerted the local police. Police and IJM brought Godwin to safety, but he wasn’t ready to go home yet. He told us, “My younger brother and some people too are there who are really suffering.” Godwin bravely chose to go back to the island to find the other children who were also trafficked. Over the course of multiple police operations, with Godwin’s help, 29 children and adults who'd been trafficked were brought to safety.
Justice I.O. Amadu Tanko, representing the Acting Chief Justice of Ghana, framed trafficking not merely as a criminal offense but as a profound human rights violation. He commended IJM’s survivor-centred approach and called for stronger investigations, proportionate sentencing, and coordinated victim support.
The urgency is clear: 38% of children living near Lake Volta are suspected to have been trafficked (University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of San Diego, and Kantar Ghana, 2022). Many more face trafficking and exploitation in fishing, agriculture, and informal labour.
Speaking at the conference, Senior State Attorney Moses Asampoa reinforced the role of prosecution in deterrence and urged continued collaboration between survivors, government leaders, civil society partners, and IJM Ghana to overcome political and logistical barriers.
Together, with survivors leading the way, Ghana’s justice system is being equipped to protect those who are most vulnerable to child trafficking. The conference ended with a renewed commitment to end exploitation and ensure every child can grow up in safety.