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The Committee notes that no report has been received from the Government. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

1. In its earlier comments, the Committee requested information on measures taken against the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory labour, in particular as regards the Trokosi system practised in some parts of the Volta Region, where young girls of about 10 years of age are pledged into perpetual bondage to serve fetish shrines in atonement of offences allegedly committed by their relatives. It noted the adoption of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 1998 (No. 554), which contains provisions criminalizing any form of ritual or customary servitude or any form of forced labour related to a customary ritual (section 314A). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the application of section 314A in practice, including information on any legal proceedings which may have been instituted as a consequence of the exaction of any form of forced labour or servitude, in relation to the Trokosi system, and on any penalties imposed.

2. Referring to its comments under Convention No. 182, likewise ratified by Ghana, the Committee has noted with interest the information supplied by the Government in its report on measures taken to combat forced labour and child labour, such as the establishment in January 2001 of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, launching in March 2002 of a three-year child trafficking project by ILO/IPEC in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, elaboration by ILO/Declaration of a draft programme for special action to fight against the Trokosi system, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General, Ministry of Interior, the CHRAJ and the social partners.

Referring also to its general observation of 2000, the Committee has noted with interest that the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 1998 (No. 554) referred to above contains provisions aiming at suppressing trafficking in human beings and requests the Government to provide information on their application in practice, as well as on other measures taken or contemplated to combat human trafficking. Please also continue to supply copies of the CHRAJ’s annual reports.