The Ministry of Overseas Affairs has warned Ghanaians in opposition to doing enterprise with unauthorized journey companies and recruitment companies after 28 Ivorian nationals had been rescued from a human trafficking community and returned dwelling final Saturday.
The victims, most of whom had been younger, had been rescued in a joint operation involving officers from the Ghana Police Drive’s anti-trafficking unit, officers from the Ghana Embassy in Abidjan, and Ivorian safety providers.
They’ve since returned safely to Ghana and are aiding within the investigation.
In an announcement issued on Sunday, Could 11, 2026, the ministry urged residents to examine all worldwide journey and job postings earlier than making funds or commitments.
It warned in opposition to participating with people or establishments that promise abroad work or journey alternatives with out correct authorization.
“The general public ought to pay attention to the dangers related to participating with unauthorized recruitment companies that promise journey and employment alternatives,” the assertion mentioned.
The ministry suggested potential vacationers to examine the legitimacy of such provides with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Labor, Employment and Employment Relations, or Ghana’s diplomatic missions overseas.
human trafficking community
The rescue adopted an intensive anti-trafficking operation in Ivory Coast led by the Ghana Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit led by Superintendent William Ayariga and assisted by civilian monitoring consultants.
Investigators uncovered a large-scale human trafficking community that allegedly lured victims with guarantees of jobs and immigration alternatives to nations corresponding to France and Canada.
The victims had been reportedly transported via nations together with Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Liberia earlier than being held in camps in Ivory Coast, the place their actions had been restricted and their private paperwork confiscated.
One of many areas recognized was Bondkou, the place investigators imagine round 2,500 victims are being held.
A joint operation involving Ivorian safety forces reportedly entered the Bondukou camp and located between 400 and 450 victims in a single compound.
These discovered included a pregnant girl, a nursing mom and a two-month-old baby. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 60 years previous.
Different suspected trafficking areas recognized by investigators embrace Anibrekrom, Ambeguro, Songor and Noe.
arrest
Two suspects, recognized as Deborah and Saji, had been arrested and handed over to Ivorian authorities for additional investigation.
Investigators imagine that Deborah operated a number of camps throughout Ivory Coast, whereas Sazi, who is claimed to be from Sefi Wiaso within the northwest, used a number of identities to recruit victims.
Previous instances
The incident raises considerations about human trafficking syndicates focusing on Ghanaians with faux abroad employment alternatives.
Final April, Interpol labored with Ghanaian and Ivorian authorities to dismantle one other human trafficking community working in Abidjan.
Victims on this case had been recruited via faux on-line job ads and requested to pay as much as $9,000 after being contacted by recruiters utilizing Canadian cellphone numbers and identification.
As a substitute of touring to Canada, the victims had been trafficked to Abidjan, the place they had been held in opposition to their will and compelled to recruit others in on-line pyramid schemes.
Human rights group Difficult Heights says it has labored with the Ghanaian police to rescue 82 victims of human trafficking and compelled labor for the reason that starting of the yr.
The group mentioned 57 youngsters had been rescued from pressured labor within the fishing sector and 25 Nigerians had been launched from pressured prostitution and repatriated.
The group known as on the Ministry of Finance to allocate no less than GH¢20 million to the Human Trafficking Fund and overview the 2005 Trafficking in Individuals Act.
The Stroll Free Basis estimates that greater than 91,000 folks in Ghana reside underneath circumstances of recent slavery, together with round 21,000 youngsters engaged in pressured labor on Lake Volta.
The U.S. Division of State positioned Ghana in Tier 2 in its 2024 Trafficking in Individuals Report, indicating that regardless of important efforts, Ghana doesn’t absolutely meet minimal requirements for eliminating human trafficking.
The report cited the continued exploitation of Ghanaians by fraudulent labor recruiters overseas and famous that no such recruiters had been prosecuted throughout the reporting interval.
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned efforts had been underway to dismantle human trafficking networks and prosecute these behind them.
Beneath Ghana’s Trafficking in Individuals Act 2005, these convicted of human trafficking offenses are topic to jail phrases starting from 5 to 25 years.
