The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received Forty -four (44)Ghanaian nationals who were rescued from suspected human trafficking activities in Nigeria and began arrangements for their reintegration.
The Forty- four Ghanaians comprising of twenty- seven (27) males and seventeen (17) females were received in Accra on Friday by officials of the Ministry.
The group was evacuated with the support of Ghana’s diplomatic mission and Nigerian authorities after they were discovered in a location outside Lagos where they had been taken under false promises of employment and better living conditions.
Speaking at a brief reception to welcome the returnees, the Director of the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Kwesi Boakye, said many young Ghanaians continue to fall victim to schemes that promise opportunities abroad but end in exploitation.
He explained that the victims were persuaded to travel by individuals who claimed they could secure jobs and improved livelihoods for them.
“These activities are part of what we describe as migration through deception or human trafficking where some people lure our citizens into believing they will find meaningful work outside the country, only for them to face hardship and exploitation”, he said.
According to him, the ministry worked with partners to facilitate the movement of the group from the Nigerian location where they were found to Lagos before arrangements were made for their return to Ghana.
“On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we are here to welcome our compatriots who have been rescued from Nigeria and with the assistance of the ministry and our partners, they are back home safely this afternoon”, he added.
Mr. Boakye expressed appreciation to the Government of Nigeria for its cooperation during the rescue operation and commended Ghanaian officials who coordinated the evacuation process.
He said they were grateful to the Government of Nigeria for the collaboration that made the rescue possible and added that the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked together to ensure the safe return of the citizens.
He added that the ministry would work with other government agencies to determine the next steps for the group and assist them with support services where necessary.
The returnees are also expected to engage with the media to raise awareness about the tactics used by traffickers and the risks involved in accepting offers that promise quick employment opportunities abroad.
One of the victims speaking to journalists after their arrival, thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assisting them to return to Ghana and for treating them as citizens whose welfare matters to the state.
He said the ministry’s response showed that the government remained concerned about the safety of Ghanaians wherever they find themselves.
“I want to give very big thanks and kudos to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for considering us as part of its sons and daughters and helping us to return home,” he said.
Authorities say many of the victims had been recruited through networks linked to the controversial business group QNET, which has been associated with complaints of fraudulent recruitment schemes across parts of West Africa.
They say the latest rescue highlights the need for continued vigilance as government agencies intensify efforts to protect citizens from trafficking and other forms of exploitation linked to irregular migration.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran,ISD
