The Anti – Human Trafficking Unit Builds the capacity of Northern Regional Anti – Human Trafficking Staff

THE ANTI – HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF NORTHERN REGIONAL ANTI – HUMAN TRAFFICKING STAFF ON JUNE 25, 2018.

A four day specialized capacity building programme was held for twenty-two (22) personnel of the Northern Regional Anti Human Trafficking Officers including other stakeholders. The workshop commenced at Mum’s Hotel in Tamale on June 25, 2018.

The training brought together twenty-two (22) participants drawn from the Tamale Regional Anti Human Trafficking Units, Department of Social Welfare and Center for the Initiative Against Human Trafficking (CIAT). The training was organized by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the International Justice Mission Ghana (IJM).

During the official opening of the programme, the Northern Regional Police Commander DCOP/ Mr. Timothy Yossah Bongah welcome the organizers of the programme and the participants. He stated that human trafficking which is often described as modern day slavery is an affront to the Fundamental Human Right and undermines the very dignity of human beings. Adding, it is against this background that the Human Trafficking Act of 2005, Act 694 was promulgated in 2005 by the government to guide officers mandated by the law to arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders of human trafficking.

He stressed that effective and successful collaboration with other stakeholders and partners such as the NGO’s Social Welfare, Chiefs and Queen Mothers etc will enhance the achievement of their goals. As according to him, fighting human trafficking is a complex one particularly at the poverty stricken and deprived communities such as those within the Northern Region. Therefore to effectively combat human trafficking matters, Police officers and other stakeholders must be professionally trained to be well equipped with the needed skills and knowledge on how to handle victims of human trafficking. He commended the Anti-Human Trafficking Directorate of Ghana Police Service and International Justice Mission Ghana (IJM) for jointly organizing such training programme to upgrade the skills of the officers to be able to discharge their objectives as required under the law.

Explaining the reason for organizing this programme, the Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit/CID Supt./Mr. Mike Baah who read a statement on behalf of the Director-General, CID, DCOP/Mrs. MYT Addo Danquah explain that, building the capacity of the Anti-Human Trafficking personnel and other partners would help them to be in the position to handle cases of human trafficking professionally and to incorporate victims centered approach into their investigation procedures. He also added that the course was to serve as the needed platform for key stakeholders involve in combating  human trafficking in Ghana, particularly NGO’s, Department of Social Welfare and the police to network effectively to manage the menace in the Northern Region.

The training formed part of the strategic plans of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit within the general framework of the National Trafficking, Operational Planning, Child Interviewing, Informed Trauma Care, Docket Management for Effective Prosecution and Interrogation of Suspects among others.

In his closing remarks, the Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit Supt. Mike Baah, on behalf of the Ghana Police Service thanked the International Justice Mission for their immense support in building the capacity of police including other partners and encouraged participants to put what they had learnt into practice and coordinate their collective efforts to combat Human Trafficking in the Northern Region.