The West Africa Programme Director of International Justice Mission (IJM), Anita Budu, has highlighted the role of The1957News in the recent rescue of 18 Nigerian victims of human trafficking, describing the operation as a practical example of how collaboration between the media and law enforcement can strengthen Ghana’s fight against human trafficking.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Accra on Thursday, July 30, Budu said the rescue illustrates why journalists and bloggers should be recognised not only as storytellers but also as critical partners in prevention, public awareness and victim identification.
Her remarks referenced a recent operation in which The1957News worked closely with the Ghana Police Service after receiving information from victims who had allegedly been trafficked into Ghana from Nigeria with false promises of employment.
Following the distress message, The1957News engaged the Ghana Police Service and maintained communication with officers as efforts were made to verify the information and locate the victims. The collaboration culminated in a coordinated police operation that rescued all 18 young Nigerian men from captivity and initiated investigations into the suspected trafficking network.
Highlighting the case during her address, Budu said the successful rescue was made possible because the media outlet recognised indicators of human trafficking and promptly engaged the appropriate authorities.
“Only two weeks ago, a blogger received a message from young Nigerians who had been trafficked into Ghana under the false promise of employment. Because he recognised the indicators of trafficking and knew where to report the case, the Ghana Police Service responded swiftly and rescued eighteen young men,” she said.
Budu noted that the incident demonstrates the value of sustained partnerships between anti-trafficking organisations, the media and state institutions.
“Our partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association is another example. Journalists and bloggers are not simply storytellers—they are important partners in prevention, public awareness and victim identification,” she stated.
She further disclosed that The1957News, represented by its Team Lead, Bernard Odompleh Kwesi, and other bloggers are currently participating in a specialised training programme aimed at deepening media practitioners’ understanding of human trafficking, victim identification and referral mechanisms to support government interventions.
According to her, building the capacity of journalists and digital content creators will improve reporting on trafficking while enabling them to identify potential victims and channel cases to the appropriate authorities for prompt action.
Budu made the remarks at the national commemoration of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, held under the theme, “Human Trafficking Act @ 20: Advancing Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership in Ghana – The Journey So Far.”
The event brought together officials from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Human Trafficking Secretariat, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Department of Social Welfare, civil society organisations, development partners, survivor leaders and members of the media.
She stressed that as Ghana marks 20 years of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), stronger partnerships among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, survivors and responsible media organisations such as The1957News will remain crucial to preventing human trafficking, protecting victims and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.