Non-governmental organisation Challenging Heights has called for a coordinated investigation into allegations of a cross-border human trafficking network involving Nigerian girls allegedly trafficked into Ghana and forced to give birth so their babies could be sold.
The appeal comes as the world marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30.
According to the organisation, survivor testimonies point to a suspected trafficking operation in which some Nigerian girls were allegedly brought into Ghana, forced to become pregnant, and detained until they gave birth. Their babies were then allegedly sold.
While the allegations have not been independently verified, Challenging Heights says several survivors have given consistent accounts that warrant a full-scale investigation by state authorities.
Speaking to Starr News, Founder and President of Challenging Heights, Kofi Annan, alleged that traffickers were exploiting vulnerable girls from Nigeria.
“Girls from Nigeria were brought to Ghana, forced to become pregnant, helped to deliver their babies, and the babies are harvested for sale,” he alleged.
Mr. Annan urged security agencies to treat the allegations with urgency, saying, “We are calling on the state agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service and EOCO, to engage in a coordinated investigation into these allegations.”
His call follows the rescue of a Nigerian teenager who had reportedly spent about 11 months in Ghana and was found with a two-week-old baby.
According to Challenging Heights, the teenager told the organisation that the woman who had been keeping her attempted to sell the baby.
The NGO believes the case should be thoroughly investigated to establish whether it forms part of a wider cross-border trafficking network.
The organisation also revealed that it assisted in rescuing 144 victims of human trafficking during the first half of 2026 in collaboration with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service and other partners.
It said 42 of the victims were children rescued from forced labour on Lake Volta, comprising 19 boys and 23 girls.
The remaining 102 victims were Nigerian nationals, including 60 girls and 42 boys aged between 13 and 29 years.
According to Challenging Heights, some of the children were forced into fishing activities on Lake Volta, while others were coerced into cyber-related criminal activities.
The Nigerian girls were reportedly trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation, including in mining communities such as Obuasi and parts of the Upper East Region.
The organisation added that many victims had been lured to Ghana with promises of employment in shops, restaurants and supermarkets, only to be exploited upon arrival.
Mr. Annan called on the public to remain alert and report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement agencies.
“Any one of us can become a victim of human trafficking. We therefore urge everyone to report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement agencies immediately they are threatened or become aware of such incidents,” he said.
He also praised the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender for their commitment despite resource constraints.
“We want to commend the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, which, despite its limited resources, has remained consistent and committed in addressing human trafficking issues in this country.”
He added, “We also want to commend the Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender for working tirelessly to combat human trafficking despite its limited resources.”
To strengthen Ghana’s fight against human trafficking, Challenging Heights is proposing a minimum budget allocation of GH¢20 million to support prevention efforts, investigations and prosecutions.
The organisation stressed that as the world marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, attention should shift from acknowledging the existence of human trafficking to dismantling the criminal networks behind it through effective investigations and prosecutions.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/ Benjamin Sackey
