The Ghana Police Service has sounded the alarm on an alarming surge in human trafficking cases involving Ghanaians being misled into exploitative situations in neighboring ECOWAS countries.
In a press briefing held in Accra on June 30, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), revealed that 66 victims tied to a trafficking syndicate linked to the QNET scheme were recently rescued in Nigeria. This operation, conducted between May 19 and June 27, was carried out in collaboration with Interpol, highlighting the transnational nature of the criminal network.
Most of the rescued individuals are young Ghanaians who were enticed by false promises of lucrative opportunities, such as football academy placements and well-paying jobs abroad. Instead, upon arrival, these victims faced coercion, had their personal identification documents confiscated, and endured restricted freedom, underscoring the harsh realities behind deceptive recruitment tactics.
DCOP Donkor emphasized the importance of vigilance among Ghana’s youth and families when evaluating overseas job or educational offers, urging community involvement in verifying the authenticity of such propositions to prevent further victimization.
She warned that traffickers rely on manipulation and control methods that constitute serious criminal offenses, pledging rigorous investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
The police call on the public to report suspicious activities promptly to help dismantle these trafficking rings and protect vulnerable Ghanaians from exploitation within the sub-region.
