Ghanaian child protection organisation Challenging Heights has warned of an active network allegedly using social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to recruit Ghanaian children into the commercial sex trade.
The organisation says the trend is increasingly affecting girls in mining communities, with some victims reportedly below 16 years being recruited and subjected to sexual exploitation.
The warning follows a recent operation conducted by Challenging Heights in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, which led to the rescue of 47 victims of sexual exploitation from six communities around Goaso in the Ahafo Region.
Out of the 47 victims rescued, 26 were handed over to Challenging Heights for rehabilitation and recovery. The organisation said 16 of those placed under its care were below 18 years.
Although many of the rescued victims were foreign nationals, particularly from Nigeria, Challenging Heights says Ghanaian girls are increasingly being targeted by traffickers for recruitment into the sex trade.
Founder of Challenging Heights, James Kofi Annan, told Citi News that 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 raised concerns about the impact of sexual exploitation on young children, including babies.
“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 operations against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, particularly in communities identified as hotspots for such activities.
Mr Annan also urged the Ghana Immigration Service to strengthen surveillance and border controls to prevent traffickers from moving victims across Ghana’s borders.
The organisation said the recent rescue operation highlights the need for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, child protection organisations and communities to identify trafficking networks and protect vulnerable children.
Challenging Heights is therefore calling for sustained interventions to disrupt the recruitment of children into sexual exploitation while ensuring rescued victims receive the necessary rehabilitation and support to recover from their experiences.
