Twenty-eight Ghanaian nationals, mostly young people, have been rescued and repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire after falling victim to what Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a sophisticated human trafficking network operating across borders.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that twenty-eight (28) Ghanaian nationals, predominantly youth, who were victims of a sophisticated human trafficking network have been rescued and repatriated to Ghana from Côte d’Ivoire “ .the statement mentioned.
The rescue operation was announced in a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 10, 2026, in Accra. According to the ministry, the operation was jointly carried out by security operatives and officials of Ghana’s Embassy in Abidjan, leading to the safe return of the victims to Ghana.
The incident adds to growing concerns over human trafficking and fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes targeting young Africans seeking employment and travel opportunities abroad. In recent years, West African countries have increasingly intensified cooperation to combat trafficking networks involved in labour exploitation, illegal migration and transnational organised crime across the subregion.
According to the ministry, the rescued victims are currently safe in Ghana and assisting authorities with ongoing investigations aimed at identifying and dismantling the criminal syndicate behind the operation.
The Government of Ghana also commended Ivorian authorities for what it described as effective collaboration and intelligence sharing during the rescue mission, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in addressing cross-border trafficking.
“The Government of Ghana conveys commendations to Ivorian authorities for the effective collaboration and shared intelligence.” It stated.
The statement further warned Ghanaians to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to deceptive travel and employment schemes operated by unlicensed recruitment agencies and criminal networks.
“The Ministry urges the public to be conscious of the dangers associated with engaging unlicensed recruitment agencies which promise travel and job opportunities,” portions of the statement noted.
Authorities additionally encouraged the public to verify overseas job and travel offers with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment Relations, as well as Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad before making any commitments.
The ministry assured the public that the Mahama administration remains committed to dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice, stressing that the welfare and protection of Ghanaians abroad remain a national priority.
Related Posts
