Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU)
The Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Ghana Police Service was established on 11th March, 2008 under the command of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Unit is to collaborate with other stakeholders to embark on a more vigorous awareness, sensitization programmes and other strategic measures to address the issue of human trafficking in Ghana and across borders. Some of the contemporary stakeholders are, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) Department of Social Welfare (DSW) Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) UNICEF, International Labour Organization (ILO) International Organization for Migration (IOM), Attorney General’s Office, and other NGOs.
Our Vision
To make Ghana a state free of Human Trafficking
Our Values
To be fair, open and honest.
To work in partnership with civil society.
To encourage improvement and innovation.
Our Mission
The AHTU’s mission is to help bring freedom, hope and justice to trafficked victim both locally and internationally.
Functions
- Liaise with other stakeholders to adopt proactive methods to prevent trafficking in human beings (domestic and international);
- Co-operate with Law Enforcement Agencies worldwide, in operations to crack down on international/domestic criminal gangs involved in human trafficking.
- Investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders under the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694)
- Liaise with National Headquarters Operations, Regional Operational Units, Rapid Deployment Forces, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units (DOVVSU) and INTERPOL/GHANA, to offer prompt response to human trafficking cases;
- Liaise with Regional, Divisional, District, and Unit Crime Officers to collect and collate information on Human Trafficking cases to feed the National Crime Statistic Database.
Biography
In view of this, most Law Enforcement Agencies have or are creating specialized Units to deal effectively with this growing menace in co-operation with other agencies dealing with other forms or organized crime. Unfortunately, pundits opine that due cultural and customary practices, human trafficking is not considered a serious crime in Africa. In Ghana, despite the promulgation of the Human Trafficking Act 2005, Act 694, a significant number of people in some communities actively engage in human trafficking.
A Human Trafficking Unit is being established at the CID Headquarters. The new Unit will collaborate with other stakeholders to embark on a more vigorous awareness and sensitization campaign. Some of the contemporary stakeholders are, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, International Organization of Migration (IOM), Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Immigration Service, Attorney General’s Office, Passport Office, and other NGOs.
The Unit would function as follows
- Liaise with other stakeholders to adopt proactive methods to prevent trafficking in human beings (domestic and international);
- Co-operate with Law Enforcement Agencies worldwide, in operations to crack down on international/domestic criminal gangs involved in human trafficking.
- Investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders under the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694)
- Liaise with National Headquarters Operations, Regional Operational Units, Rapid Deployment Forces, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units (DOVVSU) and INTERPOL/GHANA, to offer prompt response to human trafficking cases;
- Liaise with Regional, Divisional, District, and Unit Crime Officers to collect and collate information on Human Trafficking cases to feed the National Crime Statistic Database.
Interesting Cases
On 24th July, 2018, Midawo Agbodzi was convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour by Accra Circuit Court. On Thursday 22nd February, 2018, he brought the victim (9 years) from the Volta to Accra under the pretext of sending her to school but was actually having the intension of selling the child to a friend in Nigeria.
On 31st July, 2018, accused persons Emmanuel Obeng Sintim and Angelina Danso were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with hard labour by Accra Circuit Court. They recruited victim and trafficked her to Kuwait without the requisite documents.
On 20th July, 2018, Afua Adoko was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour by Accra Circuit Court for trafficking a 14 year old boy from the Yeji to Accra.
On 26th July, 2018, Jennifer Chizoba Jeremiah was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour by Accra Circuit Court and on 24th January, 2019 Angel Chioma Jeremiah , 17 years was sentenced to 3 years with hard labour into a Senior Correctional Center. They reruited and trafficted the victim from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
On 3rd July, 2018 Ella Peter, 20 years was convicted by an Accra Circuit Court for recruiting and trafficking victims (2) from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
Human Trafficking Involving 7 Chinese Nationals
ON 14th February, 2009 Seven Chinese Nationals were arrested for trafficking fourteen (14) Chinese victims for sexual exploitation. Suspects were charged for human trafficking before Court and were convicted ranging between 5 and 10 years imprisonment respectively, currently serving at the Nsawam Prisons. Victim were later sent to China and reintegrated to their families.
Human Trafficking involving Princess Thomas Dupe, A Nigerian
On the 30th of March 2009, Princess Thomas Dupe aged 38 a Nigerian Trader was charged with human trafficking of a fourteen (14) year old girl from Togo to Ghana. She was sentenced eight (8) years imprisonment in hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF TEN (10) GHANAIAN
Girls from Ghana to Nigeria
Fati Mohammed a Ghanaian woman was sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for trafficking ten (10) Ghanaian ladies from Ghana to Nigeria for sexual exploitation.
Human Trafficking of 8 Nigerian Victims
Elizabeth Inaba Love was arrange before the Circuit Court of Justice, Takoradi in the Western Region. She was convicted and sentenced to ten (10) years in hard labour. On 30th September 2011, she recruited and trafficked eight (8) victims from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
Human Trafficking & Defilement of Fati Issah
Accused Halidu Imaro a 24 year old unemployed Fulani young man was sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment with hard labour by Ho Circuit Court ‘A’. He was charged with the offences of Human Trafficking and Defilement. Accused person trafficked and defiled victim Fati Issah from Juapong to Kasoa.
Operation “MENTUKWA
On the 5th day of April 2013, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit upon an intelligence proceeded to Kumasi for Operaiton “Mentukwa”. Upon a revelation by one of the church members, of Maranatha Adventist Prayer Camp, eighteen church members including children relocated to the outskirts of Mentukwa village. On the 6th of April 2013, at about 5:00am a team of thirty-two (32) Police personnel led by Supt/Mrs. Patience Quaye left Kumasi Regional Headquarters and proceeded to Mentukwa a farming community near Opokukrom in the Ahafo-Ano District of the Brong Ahafo Region. Upon arrival, Police went to the Maranatha Adventist Prayer Camp.
Eighteen (18) of the church members made up of four (4) women, thirteen (13) children and a male Pastor were taken and now assisting in investigations. The personnel returned back to Kumasi for debriefing at 11:35am. The team returned to Accra with both victims and the suspects. Meanwhile victims; Evans Kpodo @ Noah Christ, Elvis Kpodo @ Job Christ, Emmanuel Kpodo @ Alexander Christ, Samuel Kpodo @ Timothy Christ, Victoria Astiso @ Sarah Christ, Abigail Sarfo @ Ruth Christ, Vanessa Odonkor @ Martha Christ, Jennifer Odonkor @ Priscilla Christ and Daniel Sakpe @ John Christ were sent to a Home and suspects detained for further investigations.
On the 7th of April 2013, the remaining four (4) Pastors were also arrested, cautioned and detained. On the 10th of April 2013, suspects were charged with the offences of conspiracy to commit crime to wit; Human Trafficking and Human Trafficking.