Foreign Ministry repatriates 28 Ghanaian victims of human trafficking from Cote D’ivôire

Twenty-eight Ghanaian victims of human trafficking have been rescued and repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire following a coordinated security operation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that the victims, mostly young people, were rescued through a joint operation involving Ghanaian officials and security operatives in Côte d’Ivoire.

In a press release issued in Accra on May 10, the Ministry said the successful exercise was carried out with the support of officials from Ghana’s Embassy in Abidjan and the cooperation of Ivorian authorities.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that twenty-eight Ghanaian nationals, predominantly youth, who were victims of a sophisticated human trafficking network have been rescued and repatriated to Ghana,” portions of the statement said.

According to the Ministry, the rescued individuals have safely arrived in Ghana and are currently assisting with ongoing investigations aimed at identifying and dismantling the trafficking network behind the operation.

The statement noted that the Government of Ghana highly appreciates the collaboration and intelligence-sharing efforts of authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, describing the partnership as crucial to the success of the mission.

“The Government of Ghana conveys commendations to Ivorian authorities for the effective collaboration and shared intelligence,” the Ministry stated.

The Ministry further assured the public that the Mahama administration remains committed to combating human trafficking and bringing perpetrators to justice.

“Meanwhile, the Mahama Administration assures that all efforts are being deployed to dismantle these criminal networks and bring the masterminds to justice,” the statement added.

The Foreign Ministry also cautioned Ghanaians against falling victim to fraudulent travel and employment schemes often promoted by unlicensed recruitment agencies.

It urged the public to verify travel and job 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 commitments.

“The welfare of all Ghanaians remains our utmost priority,” the Ministry emphasized, while encouraging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruitment activities to the appropriate authorities.