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The Government of Ghana is collaborating with immigration authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to rescue and repatriate more than 200 Ghanaians reportedly being held in remote areas of the country after falling victim to a large-scale human trafficking operation linked to the QNET Group.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed in Parliament on Wednesday, July 23, that over 700 Ghanaians are currently being held hostage in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The victims were deceived with false promises of visa processing and international travel opportunities to destinations including France, Canada, Belgium, and Qatar.
The revelation came in response to an urgent question posed by Pru East MP, Kwaku Buah, who sought clarity on the government’s intervention in assisting the affected individuals.
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According to Mr Ablakwa, victims—mostly aged between 20 and 40—paid between GH¢18,000 and GH¢40,000 to fraudulent agents posing as travel facilitators. Instead of receiving valid documentation, they were trafficked across borders and detained in isolated locations under inhumane conditions.
He noted that Ghanaian diplomatic missions are actively engaged with local authorities and Interpol in the affected countries to rescue the victims and prosecute the perpetrators. Since 2021, more than 400 victims have already been rescued and repatriated to Ghana.
“The Ghanaian embassies and diplomatic missions in those countries are providing consular services to the victims,” Mr Ablakwa said.
The minister revealed that 500 of the stranded Ghanaians are in Côte d’Ivoire, with another 202 in Nigeria. He also emphasised the urgent need for public vigilance, announcing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), will launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign from September to educate Ghanaians on QNET’s deceptive operations.
Despite the ongoing rescue efforts, no arrests have yet been made. Mr. Ablakwa appealed to the public to volunteer credible information to support the security agencies in identifying and apprehending the scammers behind the syndicate.
The QNET scam has been a recurring threat in West Africa, often targeting vulnerable youth with job and travel promises that lead instead to exploitation and captivity.
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