Engage Now Africa (ENA), in collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, has rescued 20 young nationals of Burkina Faso who were allegedly trafficked to Ghana under false promises of well-paid corporate employment.
The victims, made up of young women and men, were reportedly recruited online by individuals who promised to secure lucrative jobs for them in Ghana and facilitate opportunities to travel abroad in search of better economic prospects.
However, upon their arrival in Ghana, the victims allegedly discovered that the promises made to them were false. Instead of the jobs they had been promised, they were reportedly confined and forced to meet daily targets linked to cybercrime activities.
According to accounts gathered during interviews with the victims, the recruitment process was conducted through online scams and deceptive offers. The traffickers allegedly demanded large sums of money from the victims under the pretext of processing travel documents and facilitating their movement to other countries.
The situation left the victims vulnerable to exploitation, financial abuse and psychological distress.
Following the rescue operation, ENA provided the 20 victims with temporary protection and comprehensive support at the Engage Now Africa Transitional Shelter, known as the ENA House of Hope.
The victims spent approximately one month at the facility, where they received safe accommodation, food, psychosocial support and counselling as part of efforts to help them recover from their traumatic experiences.
The organisation said the intervention also focused on ensuring that the victims were protected from further exploitation while arrangements were made for their safe return to Burkina Faso.
ENA expressed appreciation to QNET for its support towards the rescue operation and the successful repatriation of the victims.
The organisation also commended state institutions, particularly the EOCO Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, for collaborating with ENA to protect the victims and facilitate their safe return home.
ENA further acknowledged partners and experts from Ensign Global University for their support and for applying a public-health approach to the care and well-being of the rescued persons.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Afasi Komla, Director of End Modern Slavery at Engage Now Africa, warned that human trafficking continues to thrive where deception, secrecy and misinformation are allowed to flourish.
He stressed the need for stronger public awareness and vigilance, particularly as traffickers increasingly use social media and online platforms to identify and lure vulnerable young people.
Mr. Komla urged job seekers to conduct proper checks before accepting employment offers, particularly those received through social media, messaging platforms or unverified recruitment agencies.
He advised members of the public to ask questions, verify the identity and credibility of recruiters, and seek reliable information on migration and overseas employment before handing over money or personal documents.
He also encouraged the public to report suspicious recruitment agencies, fraudulent job offers and online activities that appear to be connected to human trafficking or other forms of exploitation.
According to him, preventing trafficking requires collective responsibility involving individuals, families, communities, civil society organisations, law enforcement agencies and other relevant state institutions.
He emphasised that early reporting could help authorities intervene before victims are transported, exploited or subjected to other forms of abuse.
The rescue of the 20 Burkinabè nationals also highlights the growing risks associated with online recruitment scams, particularly among young people searching for employment opportunities and better livelihoods.
Traffickers often exploit economic hardship and the desire for overseas opportunities by presenting attractive but fraudulent employment packages to unsuspecting victims.
ENA therefore called for increased public education on safe migration, legitimate employment opportunities and the warning signs associated with fraudulent recruitment.
The organisation said every person has a role to play in preventing trafficking by refusing to remain silent when suspicious activities are identified and by helping vulnerable individuals access accurate information.
Mr. Komla reaffirmed ENA’s commitment to combating human trafficking, modern slavery and other forms of exploitation, while promoting the protection, dignity and freedom of survivors.
He said the organisation would continue working with state agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts aimed at identifying traffickers, protecting victims and preventing further exploitation.
The organisation reiterated its message to the public: Every conversation matters. Every action counts. Every life deserves freedom.
ENA urged the public to expose trafficking scams, protect vulnerable persons and support survivors as they rebuild their lives.
Story By Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah | Ahotoronline | Accra
