By: Sarah Baafi
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the successful rescue and repatriation of 28 Ghanaians who fell victim to a sophisticated human trafficking network in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to the Minister, the victims, mostly young people, had been lured by traffickers with false promises of travelling to Europe for better opportunities after allegedly extorting huge sums of money from them.
In a statement, Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that the victims were safely brought back to Ghana following a special rescue operation carried out in collaboration with security operatives and officials from Ghana’s Embassy in Abidjan.
“We have successfully rescued and repatriated 28 Ghanaians from Côte d’Ivoire who were victims of a sophisticated human trafficking network,” he stated.
He added that all 28 individuals had been promised “paradise in Europe” by the traffickers but were instead trapped in the criminal scheme.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an accompanying press release dated May 10, 2026, confirmed that the rescued victims are currently safe in Ghana and assisting with ongoing investigations aimed at dismantling the trafficking syndicate and bringing those responsible to justice.
The government also commended Ivorian authorities for their cooperation and intelligence-sharing during the operation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has cautioned the public, particularly the youth, to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraudulent travel and recruitment schemes operated by criminal networks.
It further advised prospective travellers to verify the authenticity of 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.
