Child protection organisation Challenging Heights has raised concerns over an alleged active network 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 being recruited and sexually exploited.
The warning follows a joint operation by Challenging Heights and the Ghana Police Service that rescued 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 minors.
Although many of the victims were foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, Challenging Heights says Ghanaian girls are increasingly becoming targets 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 expressed concern about the impact of sexual exploitation on children and infants in affected communities.
“We are also seeing a worrying trend of babies being affected by this sexual exploitation and forced prostitution in the mining [communities],” he said.
He called on the Ghana Police Service to intensify operations against 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.
