Ghanaian authorities have rescued 219 individuals, primarily young West Africans, from what is believed to be a human trafficking and cybercrime network operating in Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra. The operation was spearheaded by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Nigerian High Commission, and international partners.
According to EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Abdul Bashiru, the victims were misled into entering Ghana under the false pretext of securing high-paying jobs and improved living conditions. In reality, they were subjected to exploitative and inhumane treatment. “A Nigerian victim told us he was fed only once a day and denied any freedom of movement,” Bashiru stated during a press briefing.
The authorities discovered various devices such as laptops and internet routers believed to have been used in online fraud activities. Victims were found confined in overcrowded and unhygienic spaces, working long hours under constant surveillance.
A full-scale screening process is underway to differentiate victims from potential perpetrators and to identify any minors. Journalists present at Kunzak Estates documented the rescued individuals as they were being assessed and given temporary refuge at EOCO’s premises. Officials expect the screening to be completed within 24 hours.
EOCO has confirmed that repatriation procedures are already in progress, especially for the Nigerian nationals involved. “We’ve mapped out strategies for stronger collaboration with the CID to step up efforts against transnational organised crime,” Bashiru added, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to dismantling the trafficking ring.
Further operations are being planned across other regions of Ghana, targeting what officials describe as a highly coordinated trafficking network. This intervention highlights Ghana’s growing importance in the global struggle against human trafficking and cybercrime, both as a point of transit and as a destination