The Government of Ghana has successfully repatriated more than 400 citizens who were victims of a transnational human trafficking scheme operated under the guise of the QNET network.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed this during proceedings in Parliament on Wednesday, July 23.
The disclosure came in response to an urgent parliamentary inquiry from Kwaku Buah, the Member of Parliament for Pru East, who sought an update on interventions to assist trafficked individuals linked to the fraudulent recruitment ring.
Mr. Ablakwa explained that those rescued were initially trafficked to countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, where they were held under exploitative conditions. He added that the majority of the victims, aged between 20 and 40 years, had been misled with promises of lucrative job placements and overseas travel opportunities.
According to him, victims paid amounts ranging from GH¢18,000 to GH¢40,000 to individuals posing as agents capable of securing visas and facilitating their travel to destinations such as France, Canada, Belgium, and Qatar. Instead, they were abandoned in host countries, often without documentation or basic support.
Ghana’s embassies in the affected West African countries have since intensified cooperation with local immigration authorities and Interpol to facilitate the rescue of stranded nationals and track down those behind the scam.
While efforts continue to repatriate more than 500 Ghanaians still stranded in Côte d’Ivoire and another 202 in Nigeria, consular assistance has been extended to support the victims with shelter, documentation, and safe return arrangements.
Despite the growing number of cases, no arrests have yet been made. The Minister, however, appealed to the general public to share any credible leads that could help law enforcement agencies apprehend the individuals orchestrating the scheme.
To prevent further victimisation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) plan to launch a public sensitisation campaign in September 2025. The initiative aims to educate communities about the deceptive tactics used by recruitment scammers operating under the QNET brand.
In addition to these measures, Mr. Ablakwa encouraged fellow lawmakers to actively engage their constituencies and raise awareness about the dangers of fraudulent job and travel schemes, many of which have left hundreds of young Ghanaians vulnerable to exploitation and abuse across borders.
