IOM supports government with equipment to collect data on trafficking

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has handed over equipment to collect data on human trafficking to the Ghana Government.

The Trafficking in Persons Information System (TIPIS) will collect aggregate and anonymous information from district, regional and national levels, providing senior policy makers with accurate information to guide nationwide counter trafficking response.  

It was developed in consultation with representatives from key government stakeholders, particularly the Human Trafficking Secretariat, who also provided key remarks during the discussion.

The hand over was part of a stakeholder meeting chaired by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Ms. Otiko Afisa Djaba that included a broad range of Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Ms. Djaba(left) and Ms Lopez-Ekra (right)

Receiving the items on behalf of the other government stakeholders, Ms. Djaba said the system will address important information gaps on human trafficking trends in Ghana and also strengthen the country’s collective approach to data collection.

 “In January of this year, I had the opportunity to view the TIPIS and am now confident that it will address important information gaps on human trafficking trends in Ghana, which will strengthen our collective approach to data collection. It will also aid in our reporting obligations nationally, regionally and internationally”, She said.

IOM is piloting the TIPIS in Volta, Greater Accra and Central regions, although the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection plans to expand to additional regions in the future.

The IOM Ghana Chief of Mission, Ms Sylvia Lopez-Ekra said IOM has already provided training to 155 regional and 10 national focal points in target regions to build their capacity to use the TIPIS effectively.

“We all know that the data collection capacity of government officials on the ground greatly depends on the resources available to them. Beyond the items donated by IOM today, more resources need to be allocated to data collection in the future to ensure an effective use of the TIPIS” she said.

Some stakeholders at the meeting

Donation

Items donated

To facilitate the use of the TIPIS, IOM donated a total of $17,831 worth of equipment to key government stakeholders such as Department of Social Welfare, Attorney General’s Department, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Human Trafficking Secretariat.

This includes computers, printers, uninterruptible power supply, and modems with internet bundles to allow identified focal points to access the online platform.

The TIPIS was developed as part of the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership between the Governments of Ghana and the United States, with funding from the US Department of State’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

As an implementing partner of the CPC, IOM provides technical support to Government stakeholders responsible for protecting victims of trafficking and prosecuting perpetrators.