By: Rachel Kakraba
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has renewed its call on the public to exercise extreme caution when pursuing travel and employment opportunities abroad, citing growing concerns over fraud and exploitation.
It further urges prospective travelers to thoroughly verify the authenticity of offers, through official channels, and avoid engagement with unverified individuals or entities before making any commitments.
This renewed call follows the successful repatriation of forty-four Ghanaian nationals who were rescued from a fraudulent recruitment network linked to QNET in Nigeria.
The Ministry had earlier, on March 13, 2026, issued a public alert cautioning the public against the activities of QNET.
Speaking to the media in Accra, while welcoming the victims on Friday, March 20, 2026, John Kwesi Boakye, Director, Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed regret that some individuals and organizations continue to take advantage of unsuspecting citizens through false promises of lucrative jobs abroad.
He urged all citizens to take an active role in combating human trafficking and the activities of QNET, as concerns grow over increasing incidents across the country. He also called on individuals, particularly those who have had similar experiences, to serve as ambassadors in raising awareness and protecting others.
“ We also wish that our citizens would take this opportunity to be ambassadors for the fight against human trafficking and the activities of QNET, a lot are going on in our country, so we want them to use this experience or this opportunity to be ambassadors for Ghana”
Mr. Boakye said the government will continue to work closely with its Nigerian counterparts and relevant stakeholders to facilitate ongoing efforts to dismantle the criminal networks involved.
He added “steps are also being taken to ensure the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims”
About rescue operations
The group, made up of 17 men and 27 women were lured to Nigeria through activities of “QNET with promises of lucrative job and travel opportunities to countries including the USA, Canada, Germany and South Africa.
They are said to have been recruited via social media and informal channels.
Upon arrival, in Nigeria, they were allegedly subjected to exploitative conditions, including restricted movement, psychological coercion, and pressure to recruit others into the scheme.
The rescue operation follows a coordinated operation by Nigerian security authorities, including the Department of State Services in collaboration with relevant Ghanaian institutions, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Victims share experience
Some of the victims who spoke with GBCGhanaOnline on condition of anonymity, expressed relief at being safely back home and expressed gratitude to the government for the swift intervention.
Victim one, “I was invited by a friend based in South Africa to join him, as there was a mechanic vacancy available at his workplace. He informed me about the salary I would earn, which was very attractive.
He also explained that I would need to travel through Nigeria with an amount of about 30,000 cedis to help me secure all the necessary legal documentation. Upon arriving in Nigeria, I was introduced to QNET and encouraged to join. I was assured that I would still travel to South Africa, but was told I needed to engage in this as a side business first. This is how I eventually found myself stranded in Nigeria. I will urge everyone particularly the youth to be vigilant of such journeys”
Victim two “I was introduced to the business while here in Ghana and I agreed to join. The reason being that I considered Nigeria to be a highly densely populated country and so it was going to be easy to recruit others. But I thank the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the intervention. I would advise people to research and read wide about business they get introduced to avoid such predicament”
Conclusion
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Ghanaians both at home and abroad, stressing that the rescue of the 44 citizens from Nigeria should serve as a cautionary example of the risks associated with unverified opportunities.
