AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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Women also were trafficked to Western Europe, mostly Italy, Germany and the
Netherlands. International traffickers promised the women jobs; however, the
women often were forced into prostitution once they reached their destination. The
women were sent sometimes directly to Europe, while others were trafficked
through other countries. Some young women were trafficked to the Middle East,
particularly Lebanon, where they worked in menial jobs or as domestic help. There
also was a growing trade in Nigerian women transiting Ghana on their way to
Western Europe and reportedly the Middle East to work in the sex industry. Traffickers
in person from other countries reportedly used Accra as a transit point to
Europe and reportedly the Middle East. There reportedly was some trafficking in
persons from Burkina Faso, mostly transiting Ghana on the way to Cote d’Ivoire.
In March the Government announced its National Plan to Combat Trafficking in
Persons. The plan called for new legislation to criminalize trafficking in persons,
specific penalties for traffickers, and specialized training for law enforcement agencies
to detect and prosecute traffickers. A National Commission to Combat Trafficking
was created, which coordinated antitrafficking efforts of governmental and
nongovernmental actors.
Several NGOs, both local and international, worked with trafficking victims.
These organizations, as well as the University of Ghana’s Center for Social Policy
Studies, conducted studies into trafficking as part of their broader agenda, performed
some rescue operations for street kids, provided training and education for
victims of trafficking and abuse, and in some cases, assisted with family reunification.
GUINEA
Guinea is a constitutional republic in which effective power is concentrated in a
strong presidency. President Lansana Conte has ruled since 1984 first as head of
a military junta, and since 1994 as a civilian president. Conte won a second 5-year
term in a December 1998 election that was marred by violence and civil unrest,
widespread irregularities, and the arrest and detention of major opposition candidates
during vote counting. In November 2001, a nationwide referendum, which
some observers believe was flawed, amended the Constitution to permit the President
to run for an unlimited number of terms, and to extend the presidential term
from 5 to 7 years. The country’s second legislative election, originally scheduled for
1999, was held June 30. President Conte’s Party of Unity and Progress (PUP) and
associated parties won 91 of the 114 seats, with an officially announced turnout of
72 per cent but a much lower actual participation rate. The nonviolent election was
boycotted by two of the three major opposition parties. An increasingly disproportionate
number of appointed public sector positions, including senior military and
cabinet posts, were held by members of the President’s own minority ethnic Soussou
group. The judiciary was subject to executive influence, particularly in politically
sensitive cases.
The Gendarmerie and the national police shared responsibility for internal security
and sometimes played an oppressive role in the daily lives of citizens. Members
of the Presidential Guard were accountable to virtually no one except the President.
There was no effective civilian control of the security forces, whose members committed
serious human rights abuses; however, there were fewer reported abuses
than in previous years.
Approximately 85 percent of the country’s population of 7.6 million were engaged
in subsistence agriculture. More than 80 percent of export earnings came from mining,
particularly bauxite, gold, and diamonds. Economic growth lagged in recent
years following a period of modest growth between 1996 and 1999, which was attributable
in part to substantial assistance from international financial institutions and
bilateral donors. Since 1999 government collaboration with donors has been complicated
by additional defense spending, widespread corruption, particularly at the
port and customs offices, and limited transparency in the Government, which has
blocked efforts at economic and fiscal reform.
The Government’s human rights record remained poor; although there were improvements
in several areas, serious problems remained. The Government’s tight
control of the electoral process, its refusal to create an independent electoral oversight
mechanism, and its prohibition of nongovernmental broadcast media, effectively
restricted citizens’ right to change their government. There were three unlawful
killings by security forces during the year, and there were no reports of disappearances.
Civilian and military security forces beat and otherwise abused civilians.
Members of the security forces committed abuses, often with impunity. Prison
conditions were inhumane and life threatening. Arbitrary arrest and prolonged pre-
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