[REVISION HISTORY]

U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report rankings

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-12 11:13 UTC → 2026-10-18 14:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report highlights varying levels of progress in combating human trafficking across several nations. Ghana has been upgraded to Tier 1, making it the only African nation in the top tier of the report. This elevation signifies that the country meets minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, following measurable progress in prosecution and victim identification. During the reporting period, authorities investigated 222 cases and prosecuted 212 alleged traffickers, resulting in 28 convictions. A total of 2,331 victims were identified, consisting of 862 Ghanaian nationals and 1,469 foreign nationals. Nigerian citizens represented the largest group of foreign victims, with 896 individuals recorded. Challenges persist regarding shelter capacity for adult survivors and resources for rural interventions, with traffickers frequently using deceptive job offers to lure women and girls into forced labour or commercial sex work. In response to these developments, Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has convened a Technical Working Group through the Human Trafficking Secretariat. This group is reviewing and developing a new National Plan of Action (NPA) to address gaps in the country’s response, specifically focusing on improving trafficking data classification, mobilizing resources, and enhancing monitoring systems. Director of the Human Trafficking Secretariat, Abena Annobea Asare, emphasized the need for stakeholder collaboration to strengthen institutional coordination for victim protection and offender prosecution. Guyana also achieved Tier 1 status, ~~indicating it meets minimum standards. However,~~ though the report noted that trafficking investigations ~~in Guyana~~ 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, 375, were foreign nationals, including Venezuelans. Additionally, prevention funding in Guyana was reduced from US$788,372 to US$387,210. Suriname has maintained its Tier 1 status, though Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath warned of significant resource shortages, including a lack of personnel, vehicles, and operational equipment. Trafficking in Suriname often involves foreign migrants exploited in retail and gold mining. Bangladesh remains ranked as Tier 2, reflecting significant efforts such as the passage of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants Ordinance 2026, though internal trafficking remains widespread. shortages.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.