Gender Minister hosts regional dialogue on shelter operationalisation

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Human Trafficking Secretariat, has hosted a four-day regional experience-sharing mission on trauma-informed care and shelter operationalisation in Accra.

Organised in collaboration with Expertise France under the MIGRET Project, the mission brought together stakeholders from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea to strengthen cross-border collaboration in tackling human trafficking.

Their visit, facilitated by the MIGRET Project, aims to foster practical learning and experience sharing to improve anti-trafficking mechanisms and victim support services across the region.

As part of the mission’s goal, participating countries explored deeper cooperation in combating trafficking in persons (TIP) across the sub-region.

The MIGRET Project Director, Sweta Bonnet described the mission as a key step toward enhancing regional cooperation against human trafficking.

She highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s recent gains in prosecuting trafficking cases and announced the country’s plan to establish its first state-run shelter for adult victims, supported by the MIGRET Project.

She commended Ghana’s structured shelter system — particularly the Aflao transit center —as a valuable model that could be adapted in other contexts. 

MIGRET Project

She further noted that the MIGRET Project builds on regional collaboration initiated under the EU-funded ALTP Project.

In her opening remarks, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, acknowledged the invaluable support of Expertise France, citing key achievements under the partnership to include the construction of a transit shelter at Aflao, renovation of the Trauma-Informed Care Center and the Human Trafficking Secretariat, refurbishment of adult and children’s shelters and capacity building for over 600 personnel across law enforcement and social services.

She described human trafficking as a grave violation of human rights that stripped victims of freedom and dignity, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to protect vulnerable groups and ensure survivors receive comprehensive care.

The minister emphasised the need for standardised SOPs to guide victim support and legal processes, stressing that such frameworks are vital for improving consistency, efficiency, and regional cooperation.

“This experience-sharing platform gives us the opportunity to deepen collaboration, harmonize our approaches, and share practical strategies to enhance victim care across our borders,” she stated.

Dedicated shelters

Since 2018 and 2019, Ghana had operationalised two dedicated shelters for adults and children, which have supported the rehabilitation and reintegration of over 700 victims.

The recently inaugurated transit shelter at Aflao, inaugurated in 2024, now strengthens the national referral system by facilitating early identification and protection of trafficking victims.