Four Nigerians were sentenced to between five and seven years in prison last week for involvement in human trafficking.
The convicts, a man and three women, were prosecuted by the Ghana Police Anti-Trafficking Unit.
Acting Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, made the announcement at the launch of a day-long training workshop on human trafficking for aviation personnel in Accra.
In a speech read to her, the minister called on the Ghanaians to be vigilant and to report any suspected cases of human trafficking to the police or a security authority so that they can act immediately.
Ms Dapaah said there is evidence of cross-border human trafficking in Ghana, particularly for labour and sexual exploitation.
Ghana is “classified as a receiving, transit and sending country, using the country’s borders for this entry and exit”.
Ms Dapaah said human trafficking agents use the airport to go about their business, sometimes knowingly and unknowingly assisted by some officers to carry out their criminal activities, hence the need to train those involved at the airport in their role in countering the threat.
She said the training of aviation personnel is in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices (SARP) to reduce the use of the airport as a point of entry, exit and transit for victims of human trafficking.
The training, Ms Dapaah said, is part of an effort to keep stakeholders constantly informed of the dangers associated with human trafficking.
“This will help the public better understand the complex issues of human trafficking and irregular migration to improve the detection, investigation and prosecution of suspected traffickers and smugglers,” she added.
Ms Dapaah said it would also help build the capacity of officials to improve victim identification, assist and prevent human trafficking, and ensure effective cooperation and partnership between security agencies, aviation authorities and other officials to combat human trafficking.
Fred Adom Obeng, Deputy Transport Minister, expressed concern that the airline industry had been one of the modes of transport for human trafficking, particularly among women and children.
He pointed out that it is time to improve flight safety to fight cancer.
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director-General Charles Kraikue said a common, unified and collaborative approach among key stakeholders is needed to effectively stop human trafficking.
To engage all aviation personnel in the fight against human trafficking, the GCAA will ensure training and guidance for personnel, specifically to raise awareness of human trafficking.
