Ghana’s Anti‑Human Trafficking Unit announced that it has rescued 110 victims of human trafficking this calendar year, warning that traffickers are increasingly using deceptive online romance scams, forced cybercrime participation and fraudulent overseas job offers to lure unsuspecting Ghanaians into exploitation.
Superintendent William Ayariga, Director of the CID’s Anti‑Human Trafficking Unit, said perpetrators are exploiting existing relationships, including friendships with former schoolmates, to convince victims that lucrative employment opportunities exist in countries such as Canada, Japan, the United States and France.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, October 22, Ayariga cautioned Ghanaians against accepting foreign job offers through friends and acquaintances without verifying their authenticity, noting that some traffickers demand substantial payments under the pretext of processing travel and employment arrangements.
In many cases, victims are told that a company will cover part of the cost, leaving them to pay the remainder. Instead of being taken to their promised destinations, some are transported to other West African countries, including Nigeria, where passports and other travel documents are confiscated.
Once in the new location, victims are often forced to engage in online activities rather than the jobs they were promised, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and unable to return home easily.
Superintendent Ayariga said the police are continuing efforts to rescue victims and prosecute perpetrators, citing recent convictions secured by officers of the Anti‑Human Trafficking Unit, including a seven‑year prison term with hard labour in a separate case.
The police urge the public to exercise caution when dealing with overseas employment offers, especially those that require large upfront payments or involve intermediaries whose credentials have not been independently verified.
As the year progresses, the unit remains committed to rescuing more victims and holding traffickers accountable.
