Ambassador of the United States to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson has warned Ghana risk losing the $498 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact from the government of the United States of America if the country fails to adequately fight trafficking in persons, child labour and sex trafficking.
Mr. Jackson said Ghana has been ranked in the second tier for the second year in a row, and it seems no effort has been employed in curbing the menace. He said, Ghana has failed to meet “the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in person, including child labour.”
The Volta Region in Ghana he noted serves as the area for human trafficking in the country and so many children are trafficked through the lake,. on daily basis.
He decried the lack of prosecution of culprits caught trafficking children, a situation he noted, was worrying and could incur sanctions for the country.
He said at least 5 children are trafficked on daily basis in the region. ‘’Ghana’s court has not convicted people of these crimes. If there are victims, so there must be criminals as well.
As you know now, the US Department of State 2015/2016 Trafficking of Persons Report, Ghana was ranked as a second tier for the second year in a row.
What this means is that, Ghana did not meet the minimum standards for combating trafficking of persons.’’ He stressed that this was important because if Ghana is not able to fight the canker, it risks losing assistance from USAID, it risks losing the $500 million Challenge Account . The $498 million aims to help Ghana transform its electricity sector.
Any country ranked on the Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years must be downgraded to Tier 3 in the third year unless it shows sufficient progress to warrant a Tier 2 or Tier 1 ranking.
A Tier 3 ranking indicates a government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so.
