Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honourable Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has disclosed that 1,432 victims of human trafficking have received rehabilitation support through interventions by the ministry.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, the Minister of Gender revealed that 181 trafficking survivors also received trauma-informed care at shelters, while another 69 have been referred for additional support.
“On human trafficking, 1,432 victims received rehabilitation support. 181 received trauma-informed care at our shelters, and 69 were referred onwards for further support.”
Honourable Agnes Naa Momo Lartey
Honourable Lartey explained that rehabilitation is an important part of the ministry’s response to trafficking. She indicated that support is designed to assist survivors beyond their immediate removal from abusive or exploitative situations.
The Krowor MP emphasised that survivors require specialised care as they rebuild their lives. She noted that referral services are therefore being used to connect victims with additional forms of assistance based on their individual circumstances.
Dr Lartey also directed attention to services available to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. She disclosed that the Orange Support Center provides a direct channel through which survivors can seek assistance.
The centre can be reached through the toll-free number 0800111222, while survivors can also contact the service through WhatsApp on 0551755755. The Minister encouraged persons requiring assistance to use these channels to access available support.
Furthermore, Honourable Lartey linked the ministry’s protection work to the broader social protection system. She explained that reliable information on vulnerable households enables government and partner institutions to identify people who may require targeted assistance.
The Minister highlighted the Ghana National Household Registry as the main data foundation supporting that process. Data collection has now been completed across all 16 regions, with the registry covering 2,906,288 households nationwide.
According to Dr Lartey, 11,244,027 individual Ghanaians have been profiled, including 508,870 households identified as extremely poor for targeting purposes. She described the database as a single national source for identifying vulnerable populations.
The Krowor MP explained that the registry can also support other institutions seeking to deliver targeted interventions. She cited the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat as an example, noting that access to registry information can help identify vulnerable beneficiaries for scholarship support.
Additionally, the Minister stressed that the value of the registry extends beyond individual programmes. Its purpose is to provide a common evidence base that allows social protection interventions to be directed towards people who meet the relevant criteria.
Government Moves To Own Anti-Witchcraft Bill As Protection Measures Advance
The government is taking steps to assume ownership of the Anti-Witchcraft Accusation Bill as it seeks to address the financial implications associated with the proposed legislation. Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honourable Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, explained that government sponsorship would facilitate the passage and eventual implementation of the Bill.
The legislation was reintroduced in Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill before the House went on recess. However, the Minister disclosed that the Attorney-General ha taken steps to have the government take ownership of the proposed law.
Honourable Lartey urged Members of Parliament supporting the legislation to engage with the Attorney-General to advance the process. She explained that presenting the Bill as a government-sponsored initiative would provide a clearer framework for addressing its financial requirements.
“The Attorney General took it up for government to own it. That is what we want to do,” the Minister stated. She added that the government’s involvement would help make the legislative process easier and faster.
The proposed Anti-Witchcraft Accusation Bill seeks to establish legal protections for persons subjected to witchcraft accusations and related abuses. It also provides a framework for addressing such accusations while supporting the protection and reintegration of affected persons.
Beyond the proposed legislation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is pursuing other measures aimed at strengthening protection for vulnerable groups. Honourable Lartey disclosed that five child-related bills and policies had advanced through Cabinet as part of efforts to improve Ghana’s child protection system.
The Krowor MP also highlighted the implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act and its accompanying L.I. 2522, which matured in June 2026. The Gender Equity Committee and Secretariat established under the framework are now operational, with institutions being engaged on their obligations.
Dr Lartey revealed that 47 institutions have submitted compliance reports under the gender equity framework. The submissions include government institutions, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, private sector organisations and other bodies.
On child welfare, the Minister disclosed that 291 vulnerable children received care, counselling and education through five residential and subvented homes. She further noted that a nationwide child rights awareness campaign has reached 1,168,278 Ghanaians.
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