More than 3,000 students of Suhum Technical Secondary School (SUTESCO) in the Eastern Region have been educated on the rising dangers of human trafficking and the growing use of digital platforms by traffickers to target young people. The sensitisation programme, held on Friday, July 31, 2026, was organised by Engage Now Africa in collaboration with Ensign Global University under the theme “Protecting Our Children; Ending Human Trafficking in Ghana.”
The event brought together experts from law enforcement, government agencies, academia, healthcare, and civil society to equip students with the knowledge to identify, resist, and report trafficking activities. Organisers highlighted that rapid technological advancement has created new channels for traffickers and cybercriminals to exploit, particularly targeting children and youth.
Students were cautioned against fraudulent job postings, fake scholarship offers, online recruitment schemes, romance scams, and deceptive messages spread through social media and gaming platforms. They were advised to critically assess online opportunities, avoid sharing sensitive personal information with strangers, and verify offers through trusted sources.
The programme also encouraged students to report suspicious online activity to the appropriate authorities as part of broader efforts to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable groups from exploitation. Speakers at the programme stressed that awareness and digital safety had become critical components of efforts to protect children from human trafficking.
The seminar featured a panel of experts, including Afasi Komla, Director of Engage Now Africa and an anti-human trafficking expert; Chief Superintendent Alberta Ankrah, National Head of the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service; and SO Salome Gene, National Acting Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
Other panellists included ASP Edith Tetteh-Charway of the Ghana Police Service; Kwame Adabo, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Koforidua; Ama Dzifa Amankwah, an international lawyer and child protection expert; Ernest E. Ewusi, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Suhum Municipal Assembly; and Nana Afua Ayesua McRighteous, a midwifery officer and founder of the Ayesua Foundation.
Organisers said the engagement was aimed at equipping students with practical knowledge to protect themselves and their peers from exploitation in both physical and digital spaces. They also expressed appreciation to the management, staff and students of SUTESCO, Ensign Global University, the speakers and panellists, and the Engage Now Africa team for supporting the initiative.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children, combating online scams and cybercrime, and supporting broader efforts to end human trafficking in Ghana. They stressed that empowering young people with knowledge and practical tools remained critical to building safer communities where children can live free from exploitation.
Source: Albert Kuzor
