28 Ghanaians rescued in Côte d’Ivoire

Twenty-eight Ghanaians, mostly youth, have been rescued and repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire after falling victim to a sophisticated human trafficking network.

The rescue operation was carried out by Ivorian security operatives, in collaboration with officials of the Ghanaian Embassy in Abidjan.

This was contained in a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.

The statement said the victims were safely back in Ghana and were currently assisting in further investigations.

Commendation

The ministry commended the Ivorian authorities for their effective collaboration in sharing intelligence that made the operation successful.

“The government assures that all efforts are being deployed to dismantle these criminal networks and bring the masterminds to justice,” the statement said.

It cautioned Ghanaians to be extra vigilant and avoid falling prey to trafficking schemes, particularly those involving unlicensed recruitment agencies that promise travel and job opportunities abroad.

It urged the public to verify the validity of any such advertisements or offers with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment Relations, or Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad before taking any action.

“The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority,” it said.

Nigeria

In a related story, 44 Ghanaians who were lured to Nigeria under the guise of opportunities linked to a QNET scheme have been repatriated back to the country. They comprised 27 men and 17 women.

They arrived in the country by bus on March 20, 2026, after they had been rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

Most of the victims were reported to have travelled out of Ghana in December last year in search of better opportunities, but were arrested during an operation by the Nigerian police before their repatriation.

Commitment

The recent operation underscores the government’s commitment to clamp down on illegal recruitment and Ponzi schemes luring innocent Ghanaians to other parts of Africa and beyond for non-existent opportunities.