Civil society organisations have issued a clarion call for a national surge against the "global axis of evil", as new data reveals that approximately 7 million people across Africa are trapped in conditions of modern slavery.

The Institute for Healing of Memories, in partnership with ACAT Ghana, warned on Thursday, 12th March 2026, that Ghana remains a critical source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The groups argued that porous borders and economic vulnerabilities in the West African sub-region have turned the nation into fertile ground for forced labour and sexual exploitation.

In a joint statement, Africa Coordinator of the Institute for Healing of Memories, Loret Loumouamou, and Coordinator for ACAT Ghana, Miriam Damalie, pointed to the scale of the crisis, documented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the 2022 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, which paints a grim picture of human rights in the region. Of the 50 million people trapped globally, women and children are disproportionately affected by:

• Forced Labour: Particularly in fishing on Lake Volta, mining, and agriculture.
• Domestic Servitude: Children trafficked for street hawking and unpaid household work.
• Forced Marriages: Contributing to a cycle of poverty and "broken homes."

A push for ‘Trauma-Informed’ justice

While the organisations welcomed recent remarks by the Chief Justice, Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, regarding the use of specialised courts to expedite trafficking cases, they maintained that prosecution alone is insufficient.

"Human trafficking is not merely a criminal offence; it is a profound assault on human dignity, identity, and psychological well-being," the groups stated. They identified several critical gaps in the current national strategy, including weak cross-border intelligence and "insufficient funding" for the rehabilitation of survivors.

The Winneba Declaration

To mark a "decisive break" from the status quo, an anti-human trafficking march and grand durbar have been scheduled for Tuesday, 17th March in Winneba and Akosua Village. The events aim to sensitise rural and high-risk communities while advocating for:

1. Healing Circles: Structured emotional and psychological support for survivors.
2. Referral Pathways: Strengthening legal aid, shelter, and skills empowerment.
3. Policy Advocacy: Increasing funding for enforcement and reintegration services.

The Institute for Healing of Memories and ACAT Ghana emphasised that ending modern slavery is a "shared responsibility."

They urged traditional authorities, faith-based institutions, and the media to move beyond awareness and toward a coordinated national resolve that restores the agency of the vulnerable.