The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has successfully repatriated 44 Ghanaians who were deceived into travelling to Nigeria under false promises tied to the QNET scheme. The group—27 men and 17 women—returned to Ghana by bus on March 20, 2026, after being rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom State. Most of the victims had left Ghana in December 2025 in search of better opportunities but were intercepted during a Nigerian police operation before their repatriation.
Sharing their ordeal, one victim who had spent barely a month in Nigeria recounted being apprehended during a late-night raid: “The officers were dressed in black and masked, making it feel like a kidnapping. Some of us resisted and were beaten. I was traumatised,” he said. Another victim told Graphic Online that they were held in a private facility for four days before being returned home. Explaining how they were recruited, one woman revealed she paid GH¢16,000 after being promised help to secure a job in South Africa, while another victim said he paid GH¢10,000 for similar arrangements.
One female victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had been promised travel to South Africa but was instead engaged in selling products on commission upon arrival in Nigeria.“I left Ghana in December last year, and I was told I’ll be sent to South Africa to work. However, arriving in Nigeria, I was given some health products to sell on a commission basis. Although I sold some, I couldn’t meet the mark to get any commission,” she said. She added that although they were fed twice daily, the conditions were far from satisfactory and expressed regret over the decision, including the loss of GH¢16,000 given to her by her father.
She urged the government to step up efforts to create employment opportunities for young people, stressing that this would help curb the risks associated with migration in search of work abroad. Upon arrival, the returnees expressed mixed emotions—some praised the government for facilitating their safe return, while others voiced frustration over the circumstances of their arrest. Further discussions revealed that much of their discontent was tied to the financial losses they had suffered, with a few still believing the venture might have yielded profits had it continued.
Speaking to the media, the Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Kwasi Boakye, warned Ghanaians against falling prey to fraudulent recruitment schemes. He advised the public, especially the youth, to verify overseas job offers with the security services and the Ministry before making commitments. Mr. Boakye added that the Ministry was intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking and provide support to victims, while commending the Nigerian authorities for their collaboration.
He also encouraged the returnees to help raise awareness about the dangers of such recruitment drives. “We also wish that our citizens would take this opportunity to be ambassadors for the fight against human trafficking and the activities of QNET. A lot is going on in our country. “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,” Mr Boakye said.
Source: Pacome Emmanuel Damalie
