The government of Ghana is working with immigration authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to rescue and repatriate over 200 Ghanaians who are reportedly being held in remote locations in that country.
Currently, more than 700 Ghanaians are being held hostage in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo after falling victim to a trafficking scam linked to the QNET Group.
The victims were lured under the false promise of visa processing and travel documentation. They were told they would transit through West African countries en route to destinations such as France, Canada, Belgium, and Qatar.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed this on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday in response to an urgent question posed by the Member of Parliament for Pru East, Mr. Kwaku Buah, who sought an update on government efforts to assist the victims.
Mr. Ablakwa said that, since 2021, the government had successfully rescued and repatriated 400 Ghanaians trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
According to the Minister, more than 500 Ghanaians aged between 20 and 40 are currently being held in Côte d’Ivoire, with an additional 202 in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the victims paid between GH¢18,000 and GH¢35,000—or in some cases as high as GH¢40,000—to the scammers, who posed as travel agents offering opportunities abroad.
Ghana’s diplomatic missions, he added, are working closely with local immigration authorities and Interpol to assist the victims and bring the fraudsters to justice.
“The Ghanaian embassies and diplomatic missions in those countries are providing consular services to the victims,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He also announced that starting in September this year, the Ministry, in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), would roll out sensitisation campaigns across the country to educate the public about QNET’s fraudulent operations.
So far, no arrests have been made, but the Minister urged citizens to volunteer credible information to aid in tracking and apprehending the perpetrators.
Source: GNA
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