The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has successfully facilitated the repatriation of 44 Ghanaian nationals who were reportedly lured to Nigeria under false pretenses associated with the controversial QNET scheme. This group, consisting of 27 men and 17 women, arrived in Ghana by bus on March 20, 2026, after being rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
The victims are believed to have left Ghana in December 2025 in pursuit of better economic opportunities. However, their aspirations were cut short when they were apprehended by Nigerian police during an operation targeting these camps. Following their rescue, the individuals were held in a private facility for four days before being transported back to Ghana.
Harrowing Experiences
Several of the returnees shared distressing accounts of their ordeal. One victim recounted being apprehended during a late-night police operation. "The police officers were dressed in black and were wearing masks as though it was a kidnapping. Some of us were beaten when we tried to resist, fearing that we were being kidnapped. I was traumatised," he said.
Another victim, a young woman who had been promised employment in South Africa, revealed that she paid GH¢16,000 as a service charge to secure the opportunity. Instead, she was taken to Nigeria and coerced into selling health products on a commission basis. "Although I sold some products, I couldn’t meet the mark to earn any commission," she lamented. She also expressed regret over the financial burden placed on her family, as the money she had paid was borrowed from her father.
The victims described substandard living conditions while in captivity, despite being provided with two meals a day. Many expressed deep disappointment and regret over their decision to pursue these fraudulent opportunities, which resulted in significant financial losses.
Calls for Action
Upon their return, the victims expressed mixed emotions. While some expressed gratitude to the government for orchestrating their repatriation, others voiced frustration over the circumstances of their arrest and the financial losses they had incurred. A number of returnees maintained that the venture could have yielded profitable outcomes had they been allowed to continue.
The Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Kwasi Boakye, addressed the media during the returnees' arrival. He urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence before committing to overseas job offers.
"We strongly encourage our citizens to verify any recruitment schemes with security services and the Ministry before making financial commitments," Mr. Boakye stated. He further emphasized that the Ministry is intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking and support victims of such schemes. He also extended gratitude to Nigerian authorities for their cooperation in facilitating the rescue operation.
Raising Awareness Against Fraudulent Schemes
In his address, Mr. Boakye called on the returnees to become advocates against human trafficking and fraudulent recruitment schemes such as QNET. "We also wish that our citizens would take this opportunity to be ambassadors for the fight against human trafficking and the activities of QNET," he said. "We can’t have these people recruiting Ghanaians and putting them under dehumanising conditions in other countries. No one should be a victim of this QNET scam in our country again."
One of the returnees echoed this sentiment, appealing to the government to create more job opportunities for Ghanaian youth to deter them from seeking risky employment abroad. The incident has underscored the urgent need for increased public awareness about fraudulent recruitment schemes and stronger measures to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
As efforts continue to address this issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding Ghanaians from human trafficking and raising awareness about such exploitative practices.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
