United Nations in Ghana

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Ghana:

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Publication

01 April 2025

UN Ghana Annual Results Report 2024

To address multifaceted development challenges, our efforts focused on areas such as transforming food systems, accelerating digital transformation, advancing educational reforms, strengthening peace and security frameworks, tackling climate change, and supporting urbanization and humanitarian preparedness.Our collective work not only aimed to address pressing issues but also to establish a solid foundation for long-term sustainable development, with a continued commitment to the principle of Leaving No One Behind.Additionally, strengthening partnerships and securing financing for the 2030 Agenda remained a focal point, as did efforts to improve UN coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency through the approach of "UN Working More and Better Together."

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09 June 2025

UNESCO Supports “Echoes of the Landfill” Exhibition at Ghana’s Museum of Science and Technology in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025

The exhibition is a collaborative effort by the Museum of Science and Technology (MST) and ArtfullyYours, Bee Arthur Creative Productions for World Environment Day 2025. The exhibition convened six Ghanaian eco-conscious artists—Obed Addo, Beatrice Bee Arthur, Essilfie Banton, Andrea Ghia, and Salim—who excavate the hidden politics within discarded plastic: narratives of colonial residues, neoliberal excess, and quiet acts of African resilience as well as spotlight the urgent issue of waste and its impact on both the environment and human well-being, using art, culture, and science as powerful tools for awareness and change.“Echoes of the Landfill” transformed the museum space into a compelling narrative on environmental degradation, consumer culture, and the hidden legacy of landfills. Through installations made from repurposed and recycled materials, alongside interactive exhibits and multimedia storytelling, visitors were invited to reflect on the journey of waste—from homes and markets to dumping grounds—and its broader implications on ecosystems, health, and heritage. One of the artists, Bee Arthur shared saying “the artists in this exhibition do not recycle—they resurrect trash. Through sculpture, installation, painting, poetry, and photography, they force plastic to confess: as a relic of extractivism, a marker of climate injustice, and paradoxically, a medium for African futurity” “This is NOT an exhibition about waste. It is an intervention in time. A demand to rewrite the lexicon of value: that a bag is not "single-use" but a generational artifact; that those who scavenge are archivists of the Anthropocene” Bee Arthur further echoes. The UNESCO Representative and Chairperson for the occasion, Mr. Edmond Moukala stated that; “Echoes of the Landfill” is a powerful exhibition at the intersection of art, science, and sustainability, compelling audiences to confront the often-overlooked consequences of waste and consumer habits. Using artworks made from discarded materials, gives voice to the silent stories of landfills—reminding us that waste does not vanish but accumulates, leaving lasting imprints on the environment, our health, and future generations. In Ghana, where landfills grow rapidly with plastics, e-waste, and pollutants, this exhibition highlights the urgent need for national reflection on environmental choices and their impacts on urban life and ecosystems. Through its evocative displays, “Echoes of the Landfill” challenges us to rethink the afterlife of our consumption and the legacy we are creating”. “Echoes of the Landfill” opens on the back of an exhibition “Nature Without Humans” by Nii Boi which UNESCO supported at this same museum in 2021 on World Environment Day - a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world inviting viewers to imagine ecosystems, landscapes, and environments untouched—or recovering—from human impact.The exhibition highlighted the critical role that environmental education, youth engagement, and indigenous knowledge systems play in fostering responsible environmental stewardship. UNESCO emphasized that the integration of culture and creativity into environmental discourse can inspire more inclusive and lasting solutions to global challenges like pollution and climate change.The event brought together students, artists, environmental scientists, policy-makers such as Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie the sector Minister, agencies such as the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and the Creative Arts Agency as well as members of the public, creating a vibrant space for dialogue and learning. In line with the 2025 World Environment Day theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution” the exhibition encouraged visitors to consider how waste impacts land use, biodiversity, and community life, and to imagine alternatives rooted in sustainability, innovation, and collective action.UNESCO commends the Museum of Science and Technology and its partners for curating such a powerful experience that bridges science and culture to provoke critical thought and promote environmental consciousness. By supporting initiatives like “Echoes of the Landfill,” UNESCO continues to advocate for environmental responsibility that is grounded in cultural awareness, education, and participatory engagement—empowering communities to act for a healthier, more sustainable future.

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29 April 2026

Guarding the Game: Ghana Convenes National Forum on Trafficking in Sports to Strengthen Safe Pathways for Youth

Efforts to address trafficking and exploitation in Ghana’s sports sector gained momentum through a National Forum on Trafficking in Sports convened by the Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on 16 April 2026 under the theme “Play It Safe: Choose the Right Path in Sports.”Bringing together government institutions, law enforcement agencies, sports authorities, development partners, IOM Goodwill Ambassadors and youth representatives, the forum aimed to strengthen coordinated responses to trafficking risks in the sports sector and promote safe, orderly and regular migration pathways for aspiring athletes. “Sports must remain a pathway to opportunity and development, not a channel for exploitation”, said Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation. “Today is a clear call to action for all of us- government, sports institutions, and partners- to strengthen regulation, promote transparency, and ensure that young Ghanaians can pursue their ambitions safely and through regular pathways”. Human trafficking and exploitation remain significant global concerns, with increasing implications for the sports sector. In Ghana, rising youth interest in pursuing international sports careers, combined with limited access to formal recruitment pathways, has heightened vulnerability. A forthcoming study by IOM and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation found that over 95 per cent of young Ghanaians expressed interest in pursuing sports careers abroad, while more than 30 per cent reported exposure to deceptive offers that led to exploitative situations.The Forum opened discussions on emerging trends at the intersection between trafficking and sports, including the role of informal agents, unlicensed academies, and cyber-enabled recruitment scams linked to major global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup. Participants highlighted how these evolving risks, combined with increased mobility and demand for opportunities, are creating new pathways for exploitation.As part of the initiative, a dedicated media training held ahead of the forum strengthened the capacity of sports journalists to report accurately, ethically and responsibly on trafficking in sports. The training emphasized survivor-centered reporting and the media’s role in raising awareness and preventing exploitation. In her remarks, Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, IOM Chief of Mission for Ghana highlighted the importance of strengthening trust in migration governance while expanding safe pathways for youth.“IOM is committed to protecting young people by expanding access to safe and regular migration pathways and addressing trafficking risks within emerging sectors such as sports”, she said. “By strengthening evidence, building institutional capacity, and supporting coordinated responses, we are helping ensure that young people can pursue opportunities safely and with dignity.”As global sporting events approach, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, embassies of the host nations in Ghana present at the forum also called for increased vigilance and proactive measures to address emerging risks, particularly cyber-enabled scams targeting aspiring athletes. The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen collaboration, translate dialogue into action, and reinforce national systems to prevent trafficking in sports, ensuring that the pursuit of opportunity does not come at the cost of dignity, safety, or human rights.The National Forum on Human Trafficking in Sports was supported through the IOM Development Fund project, “Addressing Human Trafficking in Sports in Ghana”.

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26 April 2026

Ghana Statistical Service and the World Food Programme Launch the Food Insecurity Vulnerability Report on Ghana

The Ghana Statistical Service in partnership with the World Food Programme has launched the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis Mapping (mVAM) Survey- Food Insecurity Report on Ghana in Accra. The development of the mVAM innovation was made possible with funding from Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The event brought together representatives from the Ghana Statistical Service, World Food Programme, KOICA, Government agencies, development partners, academia and general public.Speaking at the launch, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, stated that the Mobile Vulnerability Analysis Mapping (mVAM) is an innovation that allows for real time data collection, processing and storage that enables evidence-based decision making on food security.He said “Ghana is navigating a difficult food insecurity environment which affects what families eat, how often they eat, and the choices they are forced to make. These shocks do not affect everyone equally and to respond effectively, we need data that is timely, precise and actionable. That is why the Ghana Statistical Service in collaboration with World Food Programme and our partners implemented the mVAM survey.” The Representative and Country Director of the World Food, Ms. Aurore Rusiga noted that the mVAM is not just a technical tool but the result of strong collaboration and deliberate capacity strengthening by the World Food Programme to promote national ownership of operating and managing a remote mobile food security monitoring system. Adding that the data is collected, stored, processed and analyzed by the Ghana Statistical Service. “Our partnership demonstrates the benefits of working together across institutions, combining the technical expertise of our institutions with innovative approaches to data collection. By doing so, we strengthen nationally owned data systems while ensuring that the information generated is practical, credible, and policy‑relevant.” Ms. Aurore Rusiga said. She thanked the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and KOICA for funding the mVAM innovation. The Country Director of KOICA, Donghyun Lee, stated that KOICA is happy to see that the mVAM will help provide evidence for critical decision-making that will help improve the lives of people in Ghana and KOICA will continue support initiatives that address challenges in Ghana. The launch of the Food Insecurity Vulnerability Report underscores the growing importance of data-driven solutions in tackling Ghana’s food security challenges. With real-time insights from the mVAM system, policymakers and partners are expected to make more informed decisions to support vulnerable households across the country.

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24 April 2026

Ghana Launches Decent Work Country Programme III to Boost Jobs and Social Protection

The Government of Ghana has officially launched the Ghana Decent Work Country Programme III (DWCP III) 2026–2030, a five-year strategic framework aimed at promoting productive employment, expanding social protection, and strengthening rights at work in line with international labour standards.The Programme focuses on three core pillars: productive job creation, expansion of social protection systems, and the promotion of rights at work, consistent with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) strategic objectives. It was launched at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE) in Accra, bringing together representatives from government, employers’ organisations, organised labour, the ILO, and development partners.DWCP III also places strong emphasis on occupational safety and health, workplace wellness, gender equality, skills development, digital transformation, and the future of work, particularly within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).Speaking at the event, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Dr. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (MP), in a keynote address delivered on his behalf, described DWCP III as a critical instrument for advancing inclusive growth, social justice, and sustainable development.“The Decent Work Country Programme remains a key framework through which Ghana advances its commitment to inclusive growth, social justice, and sustainable development,” he said, noting that the programme aligns with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth.According to the Minister, the third phase builds on lessons from earlier programmes while responding to persistent labour market challenges such as unemployment, underemployment, and informality—particularly among young people and vulnerable groups. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening social dialogue, modernising labour legislation, improving workplace conditions, and extending social protection to workers in the informal economy.The Director of the ILO Country Office, Ms Vanessa Phala, noted that DWCP III is the result of a robust, inclusive, and consultative process involving government, employers’ and workers’ organisations.She traced the programme’s development from an initial diagnostic study conducted in 2018/2019, through validation processes delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, to renewed consultations that culminated in the final document. She explained that the Programme is anchored on three key priorities: the creation of more decent and sustainable jobs; increased access to quality, inclusive, and gender-responsive social protection; and the promotion of rights at work in line with international labour standards.“The DWCP is a forward-looking document that supports government efforts to achieve job-rich, inclusive, and sustainable growth,” Ms Phala said, assuring stakeholders of the ILO’s continued technical support for its implementation. Representing employers, the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) strongly endorsed the programme, describing it as a strategic compact to reposition Ghana’s labour market for inclusive and sustainable growth. The Association stressed the importance of enterprise sustainability, demand-driven skills development, and incentive-based transition from informality to formality. It also called for strong institutional coordination, adequate financing, robust monitoring systems, and continuous social dialogue to ensure effective implementation. Organised labour also pledged full support for the Programme. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) described the DWCP III as a bold and timely step toward securing dignity, equity, and fairness in the world of work, emphasizing that decent work is a right, not a privilege.The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), for its part, underscored that the quality of work shapes the quality of life. It noted that the Programme’s focus on job quality, social protection, and rights at work is essential for social justice, stability, and national development. The GFL called for strong social dialogue and implementation that delivers tangible improvements in the daily lives of workers and their families.The event culminated in the unveiling, signing, and official launch of the DWCP III document by the representative of the Minister, alongside other representatives of government, employers, workers, and the ILO.The Government called on all stakeholders, including the private sector, organised labour, civil society, and development partners, to actively support implementation and ensure that DWCP III delivers measurable improvements in employment, working conditions, and social protection for all Ghanaians.

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21 April 2026

Promoting Ethical Media: UN in Ghana and National Media Commission Explore Strategic Cooperation

Led by NMC Chairperson, Professor Akua Opoku-Agyemang Britwum, it sought to discuss strategic cooperation in strengthening the country’s media landscape. The dialogue centered on the urgent need to protect information integrity in the face of rising misinformation and disinformation. This engagement reaffirms the United Nations’ commitment to partnering with national institutions. During the meeting, Mr. Choudhury highlighted the critical role of the media in advancing development and strengthening public trust. “We want to, of course, use the media to educate the public about development issues, but also to be transparent and accountable about what we are doing as a UN family. So that we see the media as an important place for transparency and accountability for different parties. We see it as a very important place to tackle the scourge of misinformation,” he said. On her part, Professor Britwum shared the Commission’s aspirations on working with the UN. “[The Commission] hopes to achieve a greater reach. We hope to strengthen our capacity to deliver our mandate. But we also hope to achieve, together with the UN, how we can assist in spreading messages on development around our country… but finally also to ensure that the information that goes out there is information that helps to mobilize people to support development,” she said.The United Nations and the NMC will work to explore various avenues for collective action, including promoting information integrity, media literacy, advocacy campaigns on misinformation and disinformation, and enhancing journalists’ capacity to uphold high standards of reporting.

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21 April 2026

UN in Ghana and Partners Convene to Drive Next Phase of MSME Digital Transformation in Ghana

Building on the progress of the Joint SDG Digital Transformation (High-Impact) Programme, the UN in Ghana and its stakeholders convened for the second Project Steering Committee meeting to assess achievements, strategize for the year ahead, and finalize the 2026 Annual Work Plan.Launched in September 2024 as a joint UN initiative involving the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the project is now entering a pivotal phase of its 2024–2027 goal: to have MSMEs, especially women and youth-led and those from the informal sector, grow and increase resilience via an inclusive digital economy, strengthen digital skills and financial health. Speaking on the joint programme, the UN Resident Coordinator, H.E. Zia Choudhury, commended the agencies involved and emphasized that the real value of a joint programme such as this is “shared ownership, shared contribution, and shared results. While it requires coordination and consensus, this collaboration ultimately leads to more sustainable and impactful outcomes.”The Director of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs. Cynthia Djokoto, stressed that collective action is essential to addressing key challenges within the MSMEs sector, particularly access to markets, finance, and digital tools.Some of the key achievements of the programme to date include the formal validation of the Ghana National E-commerce Strategy in 2025, as well as the operationalization of the MSME Digital Gateway—a national platform co-developed with GI-KACE and the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA). The platform, soft-launched during MSME Day 2025 and now live in beta, centralizes MSME access to business formalization services, financial literacy content, advisory support, and a marketplace for e-commerce integration.So far, the project is on course to create a transformative and sustainable impact in Ghana’s MSME landscape by building enduring resilience and growth for some 25,000 MSMEs.The steering committee comprises the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNCDF, UNDP, UNCTAD, government institutions, the Civil Society Platform on SDGs, as well as the European Union.

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Press Release

04 May 2026

UN Working Group on the rights of peasants to conduct first visit to Ghana

The UN Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas will conduct its first official country visit to Ghana from 5 to 14 May 2026 to assess the country’s human rights situation in relation to peasants, including small scale farmers, fisherfolk and pastoralists.The Working Group will visit at the invitation of the Government.The Working Group hopes to understand the challenges and opportunities facing peasants, fisherfolk, pastoralists and other people working in rural areas in Ghana.They noted that peasant rights contained in the United Nations Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas (UNDROP) are comprehensive, and the Working Group will work to find ways to ensure they are respected, protected and fulfilled.In Ghana, the Working Group will meet with peasant communities, including farmers, fisherfolk and others, and government authorities, civil society and other UNDROP stakeholders.The experts will hold a news conference on 14 May 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office to share their preliminary findings and recommendations. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.The Working Group will present a comprehensive report with its findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026.The Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areasSpecial Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/UN Human Rights, country page – Ghana

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Press Release

15 April 2026

Business, Government, UNHCR Align to Drive New Economic Pathways for Refugees in Ghana

The Dialogue focused on mobilizing private sector engagement in agriculture through the Ghana Refugee Agribusiness and Sustainability Programme (GRASP), a joint initiative that connects refugee inclusion with national development priorities and positions agribusiness as a pathway to economic opportunity, self-reliance, and resilience. With over 30,000 asylum seekers arriving in Ghana since 2022, primarily in rural northern regions, the Dialogue highlighted the need to move beyond short-term assistance toward approaches that enable people to work, earn, and contribute to local economies.
GRASP, now integrated into Ghana’s Feed Ghana Programme, reflects a coordinated effort among UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee Board, and national institutions to align humanitarian response with long-term development and private-sector investment. “Refugee inclusion is fundamentally about enabling people to rebuild their lives with dignity,” said Mr. Tetteh Padi, Head of UNHCR Ghana. “Through initiatives such as GRASP, we are working with government and private sector partners to ensure that refugees and host communities can access livelihoods, participate in the economy, and contribute to shared growth.”
The Dialogue provided a platform for private sector actors to explore opportunities across agricultural value chains, including production, processing, and market access, while identifying areas for collaboration, investment, and innovation. “Across Africa, we increasingly experience protracted displacement. Our response is evolving accordingly,” said Nancy Aburi, Chief of Private Sector Partnerships Africa, UNHCR. “This partnership demonstrates how an engaged private sector can integrate refugees into Agribusiness value chains, contributing towards thriving economies and communities.”

Government representatives emphasized the importance of aligning refugee inclusion with national development frameworks and ensuring that refugee-hosting areas are integrated into broader economic strategies.
“Ghana is advancing an approach to refugee inclusion that is fully aligned with national development priorities,” said the Deputy Executive Secretary, Ghana Refugee Board, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Nana Asare Bediako. “Through GRASP and its integration into the Feed Ghana Programme, refugee-hosting areas are being positioned within our broader economic planning—linking livelihoods, markets, and investment to regions where both refugees and host communities are building their futures.”
Private sector leaders emphasized the scale of opportunity within agricultural value chains in northern Ghana, particularly as partnerships create clearer entry points for investment and market engagement.
“We see strong potential to engage across agricultural value chains—from production to processing and market access,” said Mr. Nii Annorbah-Sarpei, Programmes Manager, KGL Foundation. “GRASP brings together the partnerships, coordination, and structure that allow businesses to participate in ways that are practical, scalable, and aligned with long-term growth.”
The Dialogue brings together government, private sector, and development partners around a shared focus on expanding livelihoods, strengthening value chains, and increasing investment in refugee-hosting areas.
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Quarshie | UNHCR Private Sector Partnerships – Ghana | quarshij@unhcr.org
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced
communities and stateless people. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions, and to support solutions that allow people to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity

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Press Release

27 February 2026

UNEP seeks young people with big ideas to protect the planet

The Young Champions of the Earth prize is UNEP’s flagship global youth initiative. Since 2017, it has recognized 33 young trailblazers – activists, entrepreneurs, and environmental innovators from age 18 to 30 – for their outstanding ideas to protect the environment. The programme is run in partnership with American cleantech CEO Chris Kemper, who is also UNEP’s Advocate for Partnerships and co-founder of Planet A.2026 Young Champions will receive US$10,000 seed funding from Kemper, mentorship, access to a network of experts, and opportunities to engage in high-level United Nations events. They will also be brought to New York to compete in a pitch competition for a US$100,000 grant from Planet A.UNEP encourages applications from young entrepreneurs, scientists, economists, artists, and communicators from all backgrounds who are advancing bold ideas for people, planet, and prosperity. To demonstrate feasibility and commitment, applicants must have actively pursued their ideas for a minimum of six months.“Tackling the interconnected crises of climate change, land degradation, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution and waste is not an act of charity. It can deliver tangible economic benefits for countries, communities, and individuals,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “We are proud that through the Young Champions programme, these amazing individuals get mentorship, training, and seed funding to turn ambitious ideas into viable solutions for people and planet.”The 2025 Young Champions of the Earth awardees were: Jinali Mody of India, founder and CEO of Banofi Leather, which transforms banana crop waste into a plant-based leather alternative; Joseph Nguthiru, founder of Kenyan startup HyaPak, which produces biodegradable packaging from water hyacinth pulp; and Noemi Florea, inventor of Cycleau, a system that converts greywater into drinking water. Nguthiru then went on to win a $100,000 grant from Planet A.“We are proud to support these amazing young people who are changing the world,” said Kemper. “Joseph, Jinali, and Noemi showed us last year that individuals can do so much to safeguard our planet. I am excited to meet the 2026 Young Champions.”NOTES TO EDITORSAbout the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.About Planet A
Planet A is a new YouTube channel, launched with the support of The Christopher Kemper Foundation. It is designed to spark action that safeguards the future of our planet. It brings together creators, experts, and partners to drive environmental awareness and action through a range of educational stories, contests and collaborations. For more information, contact Planet A press team.About UNEP’s Young Champions of the Earth Award
Young Champions of the Earth is UNEP’s flagship youth engagement initiative. The award is bestowed to ambitious young people from around the world with outstanding ideas to protect and restore the environment.

For more information, please contact:
News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme

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Press Release

20 February 2026

UN report details grave abuses against those trafficked into scam centres

The report documents instances of torture and other ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation, solitary confinement, among other grave human rights abuses. Survivors also shared experiences of border officials aiding scam recruiters, and of threats and extortion by police.Satellite imagery and on-ground reports show that nearly three-quarters of the scam operations are in the Mekong region, which have also spread to some Pacific Island countries and South Asia, as well as Gulf States, West Africa and the Americas. “The treatment endured by individuals within the context of scam operations is alarming,” finds the report, based on interviews with survivors originating from Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. They had been trafficked into scam centres in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates between 2021 and 2025. It is also based on interviews with police and border officials, as well as civil society and others with knowledge of such operations.Victims described being lured into scamming jobs under false pretences and then being coerced into perpetrating online fraud ranging from impersonation scams, online extortion, financial fraud as well as romantic scams.The operations described are fluid, with some survivors sharing experiences of being held in immense compounds resembling self-contained towns, some over 500 acres in size, made up of heavily fortified multi-storey buildings with barbed wire-topped high walls, guarded by armed and uniformed security personnel. “A victim from Sri Lanka related how those who failed to meet monthly scamming targets were subject to immersion in water containers (known as ’water prisons’) for hours,” said the report, which updates a 2023 UN Human Rights report.“Victims also recounted being forced to witness or even conduct grave abuse of others as a means to ensure compliance; one Bangladeshi victim said that he was ordered to beat other workers and a victim from Ghana recounted being forced to watch his friend being beaten in front of him.”They told of people losing their lives as they attempted to escape, including falling from balconies and roofs in the compounds.Failed rescue attempts were also punished severely, the report finds. One Vietnamese victim described how her sister was beaten, tasered and locked in a room with no food for seven days after her sister had tried to engineer her escape.It found traffickers would video call family members to watch their loved one being abused and mistreated in order to pressure families to pay extortionate ransoms.While most victims described receiving some wages, all those interviewed by UN Human Rights experienced a range of escalating deductions and none received the entirety of the promised salary. A Thai victim reported that they were ordered to meet steep scamming targets of some $9,500 per day to avoid fines, beatings, or even being “sold” to another compound with harsher conditions.“The litany of abuse is staggering and at the same time heart-breaking,” UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said. “Yet, rather than receiving protection, care and rehabilitation as well as the pathways to justice and redress to which they are entitled, victims too often face disbelief, stigmatization and even further punishment.”“Effective responses need to be centred in human rights law and standards. Crucially, that means explicitly recognizing forced criminality within anti-trafficking laws and regulations and guaranteeing the non-punishment principle for victims of trafficking.”“Victims of such abuses require coordinated timely, safe and effective rescue operations, respect for the principle of non-refoulement, as well as available support mechanisms to ensure torture and trauma rehabilitation and address risks of reprisals or re-trafficking.”The report uniquely applies a behavioural science and systems analysis to explore why people continue to fall prey to fraudulent recruitment into scam operations and to suggest rights-based and effective prevention responses.“There must be increased availability and accessibility of safe labour migration pathways and meaningful oversight of recruitment such as verification of online job postings and flagging suspicious recruitment patterns,” Türk said.He called on States and relevant stakeholders to engage trusted and community-based actors, such as survivor-led groups, in outreach to individuals considered at risk of trafficking into scam operations. Awareness activities need to be accessible, concrete and available through trusted media.Türk also urged States and regional bodies to act effectively against corruption, which he said was deeply entrenched in such lucrative scamming operations, and to prosecute the criminal syndicates behind them. He also recalled the importance of independent media, human rights defenders and civil society organisations being able to carry out their vital anti-trafficking work free from interference.A story map is available here.ENDS For more information and media requests, please contact:In GenevaJeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Marta Hurtado: + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org In NairobiSeif Magango : +254 78834 3897 / seif.magango@un.org

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Press Release

12 February 2026

New UNU-INRA Report on Africa Redefining Critical Minerals for a Shared Future

The report reflects on the unique opportunity across the Global South to turn solidarity into strategy, stressing the need for South-South collaboration to foster a new multilateralism built on shared knowledge, joint technological development, and collective investment. The report makes the case for bringing together the collective experiences of Africa, Latin America, and Asia to co-design solutions that shift the balance of the decarbonisation agenda and scale up green value chains.As part of UNU-INRA’s Critical Minerals Information and Knowledge Hub (C-MINK), which positions Africa at the center of global mineral governance, ensuring that the continent’s vast resources drive inclusive, green, and sustainable development, this report shows that Africa’s mineral wealth is indispensable to the global energy transition and ownership must translate into control, governance, and value creation.The report shows that, Africa holds nearly a third of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including cobalt, lithium, manganese, and copper—resources indispensable for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure. Yet, the continent has long remained at the periphery of global value chains. With reports like this, UNU-INRA’s C-MINK initiative, aims to change this long-lived reality, by curating knowledge, fostering collaboration, and enabling Africa to define its own mineral sovereignty.By redefining “criticality”, deepening South-South solidarity, embedding justice, and strengthening governance, the report urges Africa to move from the periphery of extraction to the center of transformation. This is important because, the global revenues from copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithium could reach $16 trillion by 2050, with Sub-Saharan Africa positioned to capture over 10% of that value.Prof. Fatima Denton, (Director, UNU-INRA and Head of CMINK initiative) notes that, “mineral wealth must no longer be a paradox of abundance without prosperity, as Africa’s minerals are critical not only for the world’s decarbonisation agenda but for Africa’s own industrialization, energy security, and technological advancement.”The report advocates for African expertise to be paired with that of Latin America and Asia, building South-South partnerships that prioritise shared prosperity in the critical minerals sector. As a product of the C-MINK Initiative, the report calls for a redefined mineral order—one that prioritises justice, governance, and transformation. It argues that by embedding minerals into domestic production systems, Africa can move from being a supplier of raw materials to a driver of industrialization and innovation.In an era of fractured geopolitics and contested green transitions, Africa’s most powerful lever lies in how quickly it can test and scale new solutions within the global South. South-South collaboration offers a “southern playbook” for resource governance that could be a strategic pivot enabling green industrialization and structural transformation. The report advocates that Africa and the Global South should be at the center and not the periphery of the critical minerals dialogue and action. This south-south solidarity if done effectively will ensure that mineral wealth fuels a just, green, and inclusive future.ENDAbout C-MINKThe Critical Minerals Information and Knowledge Hub (C-MINK) is an initiative of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA). It serves as a platform to convene policymakers, researchers, and investors, transforming knowledge into strategic foresight for Africa’s mineral governance. About UNU INRAThe UNU-INRA was established in 1985 in accordance with a draught resolution adopted at the 21st ordinary session of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to demonstrate to African Governments and institutions the central role of science, infrastructure, and innovation in promoting natural resources governance and development in Africa while serving as a preeminent institute delivering science for practice.

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