Twenty-eight Ghanaians who reportedly fell victim to a human trafficking syndicate in Côte d’Ivoire have been rescued and safely repatriated to Ghana through a coordinated operation involving Ghanaian and Ivorian authorities.
The victims, mostly young people, arrived in Ghana over the weekend following efforts by officials from Ghana’s Embassy in Abidjan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and security agencies in both countries.
Authorities say the victims were allegedly lured to Côte d’Ivoire with promises of lucrative jobs and opportunities abroad, only to end up trapped in exploitative conditions controlled by traffickers.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the growing trend as deeply worrying and urged Ghanaian youth to be cautious of fake recruitment schemes targeting vulnerable people seeking greener pastures outside the country.
“The traffickers lure unsuspecting compatriots under the pretext of facilitating their travel to France or other European countries for lucrative job opportunities,” the minister said.
He further explained that many victims are deceived into travelling to supposed “transit countries” such as Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, where traffickers claim visa processing is easier and faster.
“The traffickers entice the victims to the supposed transit country for the processing of their visas, as the procedure takes a long time to complete in Ghana,” Mr Ablakwa stated.
According to the minister, investigations have revealed that some former victims of the trafficking syndicate have now become recruiters themselves in attempts to recover money they previously lost to the scam.
Ablakwa assured that the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national security agencies, remains committed to dismantling trafficking networks operating across West Africa and ensuring the safety of Ghanaian citizens abroad.
“The welfare and safety of all Ghanaians everywhere in the world shall continue to be a priority,” he stressed.
The rescued victims are currently assisting with investigations as authorities work to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind the operation.
Read the full statement below
