EOCO calls for criminalising renting to foreigners without checks

Staff Officer Dominic Mensah, Head, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Economic and Organised Crime Organisation (EOCO), has called for the criminalisation renting out properties to foreigners without due diligence.

He said holding landlords responsible for verifying the identities of their tenants, the incidence of cross-border human trafficking could be substantially reduced.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Staff Officer Mensah said landlords must conduct checks for passports, work permits and residences of foreign nationals.

According to him, 80 per cent of human trafficking cases involved foreigners, suggesting that strict landlord checks could significantly reduce those instances.

Mensah emphasised that landlords should not be involved in human trafficking activities, including not renting out their facilities for such purposes.

He advocated for the enhancement of the asset seizure efforts to reduce the incidence of human trafficking and serve as a deterrent to potential criminals.

Mensah noted that criminals were less afraid of jail time than losing their ill-gotten gains, however, asset seizure would make it less profitable and a crucial measure to curb human trafficking.

He called for enhancing of the capacities of law enforcement agencies in asset seizure and conversion processes.

Mensah emphasised the need for continuous efforts in awareness creation, collaboration of stakeholders and training of officers to reduce human trafficking.

Source: GNA