Superintendent William Ayariga, head of the Anti‑Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, cautioned that traffickers are turning to fake travel opportunities and romance scams to recruit victims from Ghana. The officers say the schemes prey on the widespread desire for better jobs and living conditions abroad, promising employment or romantic connections in countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan and France.
According to Ayariga, traffickers often pose as friends, acquaintances or lovers living overseas, convincing targets that they can arrange travel documents or secure work placements. Victims are then asked to pay upfront fees for visa processing or job placement, only to be sent to other West African countries where their passports and documents are seized upon arrival.
“Human trafficking as a crime is on the rise and a lot of people are falling victim,” Ayariga said on the Citi Breakfast Show. “The perpetrators are using different models to lure unsuspecting Ghanaians into trafficking. They are using models such as romance scams and travel abroad scams.”
Police are working to dismantle these networks and warn the public to verify any overseas job or travel opportunity through official channels before making any payments.
