Police rescue 16 foreign nationals in human trafficking bust at Ngleshie Amanfro

Sixteen victims of suspected human trafficking, including a 17-year-old Ivorian who had been missing for nine months, have been rescued by the Accra Regional Police Command in a successful operation carried out at Ngleshie Amanfro, a suburb of Accra.

The victims, comprising 12 males and 4 females from Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, were discovered in a residential structure in the Amanfro Toptown area on Wednesday, July 24, 2025, following a tip-off regarding the disappearance of a young boy identified as Chaka Kante.

According to Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs for the Accra Region, in a statement on July 30, 2025, the teenager had been deported to Ghana under the false pretense of joining a football team. His case led investigators to uncover what they believe to be a broader trafficking scheme.

“Preliminary investigations suggest the victims were lured from their home countries by individuals linked to a company called Q-Net, under false promises of lucrative jobs in Europe.”

The group includes individuals aged between 17 and 25, with police identifying several by name, including Denbele Mohammed (20), Santa Elodi (23), and Sajor Dijala (19). Some of the victims recounted being held against their will and enduring months of uncertainty and exploitation.

All 16 victims have since been relocated to a safe facility while arrangements are being made to hand them over to the Ghana Immigration Service for further profiling and possible repatriation, in accordance with immigration protocols.

The police say efforts are underway to track and arrest the suspected recruiters behind the trafficking operation.

The Regional Command is also calling on the public, especially parents and guardians, to remain vigilant.

“We urge the public to be cautious of fake recruitment and overseas job offers. If you suspect any such activity, report to the nearest police station,” Superintendent Obeng added.

The rescue operation marks another disturbing reminder of the rising trend of human trafficking networks using deceptive employment schemes to exploit vulnerable youth across West Africa.