Accra, Ghana – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in close partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) continues its work to enhance the capacities of key stakeholders working to fight trafficking in persons in Ghana. This includes, amongst others, strengthening the skills of relevant focal points in the use of the Trafficking in Person Information System (TIPIS). This will improve the collection of data on trafficking in persons nation-wide which is crucial to curb the prevalence of this scourge in the country.

“The effective use of TIPIS will improve the collection and analysis of national trafficking in persons data which will reveal regional dynamics and trends. This will support the Government of Ghana to guide the national counter-trafficking response and to elaborate the best preventive measures. The good collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders involved is crucial in the fight of trafficking in persons in the country,” said Abibatou Wane-Fall, IOM Ghana Chief of Mission.

To promote TIPIS in additional regions – Bono East, Oti and Eastern – and to build the capacity of the regional data focal points working there, a training on “Trafficking in Persons Information System (TIPIS) and prevention of Trafficking in Persons” was organised from 9 to 12 March 2021 in Koforidua.

Officers are now better equipped to work effectively and efficiently with TIPIS and understand better the context in which they are operating. The training was also a platform for the participating representatives of the regional Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Ghana Police Service (GPS) and other national stakeholders to discuss TIP issues and trends.

Subsequently, from 22 to 26 March 2021, IOM donated IT equipment, such as computers, central processing units (CPUs), printers and modems for web-based TIPIS usage, to the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) and Ghana Police Service (GPS) in each of three regions under the patronage of MoGCSP. IOM oversaw the installation of the system in the respective offices.

These efforts are complemented by awareness raising interventions in districts and communities across the country, emphasizing safe migration and the protection framework. To support these crucial activities, IOM, together with the MoGCSP, has developed a series of campaign materials – posters, leaflets and radio jingles – under the slogan “Trafficking in Persons is real in Ghana. Be aware. Stay safe. Help prevent it!”. They have been distributed amongst governmental and non-governmental stakeholders and partners who use them to raise awareness of the issue of trafficking in persons locally.

The TIPIS was first developed in Ghana in 2017 by IOM and the MoGCSP with the aim to collect data on identified victims of trafficking (VoTs) and investigated TIP cases. It was then installed in three regions – Central, Greater Accra and Volta – which are prone to trafficking in the fishing sector, and regional data focal points (FP) were nominated by the Government for further trainings and data collection.

The activities were made possible through funding from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, United States Department of State (J/TIP).

For more information, please contact Juliane Reissig at IOM Ghana at jreissig@iom.int, tel: +233 30 274 2930