Photo Caption: Deputy Head of the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service speaks with the Regional (Sud-Comoé) Director of National Committee against Human Trafficking of Côte d’Ivoire.
Building on the 2016 joint declaration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to combat human trafficking and child labor, Verité’s Forced Labor Indicators Project (FLIP) is strengthening collaboration between these two West African nations.
Since 2018 in Ghana, and 2021 in Côte d’Ivoire, Verité has fostered coalition-building through Technical Working Groups (TWGs), uniting diverse stakeholders to raise awareness of forced labor and human trafficking, influence policies, and drive national-level change through collaborative expertise. In August 2024, as part of the FLIP initiative, the TWGs organized a pivotal regional event in the border cities of Aboisso and Noé in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting drivers’ crucial role in detecting and reporting potential risks of forced labor and human trafficking.
As part of this effort, the TWGs engaged with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, one of Ghana’s largest driver unions and a driver union in Cote d’Ivoire. Using an informal, participatory approach, they informed drivers about forced labor and human trafficking risks and proper reporting channels. The event also provided a valuable opportunity for drivers to share frontline observations, offering critical insights to law enforcement and social service agencies about emerging trafficking trends.
A representative from the driver union emphasized the critical nature of the meeting’s topic, stating, “We need to be very careful about who the travelers are in our vehicles to avoid being indicted as a trafficker.” This heightened awareness is crucial in transforming drivers from potential unwitting accomplices into active partners in trafficking prevention. By understanding their role in identifying suspicious situations, drivers can become a vital line of defense against human trafficking along transportation routes.
Photo Caption: The Superintendent of Tiapoum, Technical Working Group members from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Verité FLIP team and participants at the training in the border town of Noé.
Local Voices Meet Government Representatives at the Border
The training was notable for its diverse group of participants, including local border community youth, women, religious leaders, and town chiefs. It also brought together government representatives from both countries, as well as law enforcement officials from police, immigration, military, and customs agencies.
“The most important takeaway for me was learning how vulnerable children are recruited from one country to another country. Now, I will know where to report in order for victims to access counseling and be returned to relatives for care and protection.”
– Representative of Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare
The Joint Technical Working Group event transcended traditional training, serving as a dynamic forum for institutions and civil society groups to share crucial insights and firsthand experiences.
Key outcomes of the meeting included:
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- Knowledge sharing among national and international stakeholders.
- Presentations by Technical Working Group members on their institutions’ efforts to combat forced labor and human trafficking.
- Exchange of best practices in a collaborative environment.
- Establishment of direct connections between institutions from both countries.
A public official from Ghana stated, “It was great meeting my counterpart from Côte d’Ivoire and exchanging contacts… it will facilitate the coordination of our actions.” Local leadership also recognized the importance of such gatherings. The Superintendent of Tiapoum expressed the need for similar events along the entire border, emphasizing the potential for improved cross-border cooperation.
About the Forced Labor Indicators Project
With support from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Forced Labor Indicators Project (FLIP) works with government, private sector, trade unions, and civil society stakeholders to combat the risk of forced labor of adults and children in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. FLIP’s approach combines education, training, and policy influence. The program develops educational resources on forced labor, conducts trainer-of-trainer sessions for key groups like labor inspectors and trade unions, and advises on integrating forced labor indicators into monitoring systems. Central to this effort are Technical Working Groups (TWG), which bring together diverse stakeholders to raise awareness and influence public programs and policies, driving national-level change through improved collaboration and shared expertise.
For open-source learning courses, project news, and other resources related to the FLIP project, visit the FLIP webpage here.
For more information, contact:
Josephine Dadzie, Global Program Director, FLIP, jdadzie@verite.org
Laurette Tovalou, Benin Country Director, FLIP, ltovalou@verite.org
Sophiatou Colliee, Côte d’Ivoire Country Director, FLIP, scolliee@verite.org
Helga Osei Aku, Ghana Country Director, FLIP, hoseiaku@verite.org
