On June 23, 2015, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama expressed his commitment to address child trafficking in Ghana and hosted the signing of first Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Ghana at Flagstaff House in Accra.

U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Gene A. Cretz and Ghanaian Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur joined President Mahama in expressing their support for this new Partnership and signed the documents on behalf of their respective governments.

The U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) represented the United States in developing and negotiating this plan with the active participation of four Ghanaian ministries: the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection; the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department; the Ministry of the Interior; and the Ministry for Employment and Labor Relations.

The CPC Partnership is a jointly-developed, multi-year plan aimed at bolstering current efforts of the Government of Ghana and Ghanaian civil society to address child sex trafficking and forced child labor within Ghana. The Partnership facilitates the award of up to $5 million in U.S. foreign assistance.

By promoting collaboration to build coordinated systems of justice and protection, the Partnership seeks to hold perpetrators of child sex and labor trafficking accountable under Ghanaian law, provide comprehensive services for child trafficking victims, and expand child trafficking prevention and awareness.

The TIP Office will support the CPC Partnership’s goals and objectives through continued engagement with the government of Ghana and funding for implementing partner organizations to work collaboratively with Ghanaian ministries responsible for combating child trafficking. Implementing partners were selected following a competitive application process that closed on July 20, 2015.

Foreign Assistance Awards to Support the U.S.-Ghana CPC Partnership

In October, the TIP Office announced the award of funds totaling $5 million to the International Organization on Migration (IOM) and Free the Slaves (FTS), an international NGO, for activities in support of the U.S.-Ghana CPC Partnership. These CPC implementing partners will work collaboratively with the Ghanaian ministries and other civil society organizations to combat child trafficking in three regions (Volta, Central, and Greater Accra) over the next four years.

• IOM will provide technical assistance to strengthen interagency coordination and assist the government to establish protocols and referral mechanisms for victim identification and ensuring a timely and effective response to suspected cases of trafficking. The Organization will also build the capacity of social service workers, police, judges and prosecutors, as well as support the overall objective of increasing enforcement of child trafficking laws by providing logistical support to Ghanaian police and assisting victims and witnesses’ participation in criminal proceedings. Support for improved care and services to child survivors rehabilitated in a government-sponsored shelter will also take place for 18 months. ($2.54 million) Learn more about the International Organization on Migration: www.iom.int/supporting-vulnerable-children-ghana
   
• FTS, in partnership with International Needs Ghana (INGH), will train community leaders to recognize child trafficking and take appropriate action and help reintegrate rescued children into communities; raise public awareness in selected communities; support livelihood alternatives for families of reintegrated children; with Ghanaian NGO partner Right to Be Free, convene two national symposia; and provide staff training and sub-grants to selected NGOs for provision of aftercare services for child trafficking victims. ($2.46 million combined with $53,044 in funds contributed from other sources) Learn more about Free the Slaves: www.freetheslaves.net/ghana