Child protection organisation Challenging Heights has raised concerns about an active network allegedly using social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to recruit Ghanaian children into the commercial sex trade. The organisation says the growing trend is increasingly affecting girls in mining communities, with some victims reportedly under the age of 16 being recruited and sexually exploited.
The warning follows a joint operation by Challenging Heights and the Ghana Police Service, which resulted in the rescue of 47 victims of sexual exploitation from six communities around Goaso in the Ahafo Region. Of those rescued, 26 were handed over to Challenging Heights for rehabilitation and recovery, while 16 were identified as being under 18.
Although many of the victims were foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, Challenging Heights says Ghanaian girls are increasingly being targeted for recruitment into the sex trade. Speaking to Citi News, the organisation’s founder, James Kofi Annan, said the development points to an emerging pattern of child exploitation in mining communities.
“We are now seeing an active recruitment of Ghanaians, Ghanaian girls, into the sex trade in the mining communities,” he said. Mr Annan also expressed concern about the wider impact of sexual exploitation on children and infants living in these communities. “We are also seeing a worrying trend of babies being affected by this sexual exploitation and forced prostitution in the mining [communities],” he added.
He called on the Ghana Police Service to intensify efforts to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation, particularly in communities identified as hotspots. Mr Annan further urged the Ghana Immigration Service to strengthen surveillance and border controls to prevent traffickers from moving victims across Ghana’s borders.
