Guyana and Ghana achieve Tier 1 status in US trafficking report

The United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report has assigned Tier 1 rankings to both Guyana and Ghana, indicating both nations meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking.

In Guyana, the number of trafficking investigations decreased in 2025, with 16 cases opened compared to 31 in 2024. While 390 victims were identified, only 25 were referred to care. The majority of identified victims, 375, were foreign nationals, including Venezuelans. Additionally, prevention funding in Guyana saw a reduction from US$788,372 to US$387,210.

Ghana has moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1, becoming the only African nation in the top tier of the report. During 2025, Ghanaian authorities investigated 222 cases and prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers, resulting in 28 convictions. Victim identification increased, with 862 Ghanaian nationals and 1,469 foreign nationals identified. Nigerian citizens represented the largest group of foreign victims, totaling 896 individuals.