Government urged to integrate victim protection into anti-galamsey efforts

Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Justice Kudzo Normeshie, the Focal Person for the International Centre for Safe Migration (ICSM) and the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Sisters' Foundation (HDRSF), urged the government to integrate victim protection measures into Ghana's fight against illegal mining (galamsey) during the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons at Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality. He stated that the country's response to galamsey had largely focused on environmental degradation and economic losses, with little attention to the plight of trafficked victims.

DSI Normeshie noted that enforcement operations against illegal mining risked displacing rather than dismantling human trafficking networks when not supported by clear victim identification and protection systems. He explained that several remote galamsey areas had become hotspots for the exploitation of vulnerable persons, particularly women, girls, and children, who were trapped in various forms of trafficking and forced labour. He stressed that the absence of structured victim identification protocols, referral mechanisms, and reintegration support continued to weaken efforts to combat trafficking linked to illegal mining. He called on the government, security agencies, and stakeholders to adopt a more comprehensive and victim-centred approach.