The government has repatriated 1,242 Ghanaians from Libya, Cambodia and Côte d'Ivoire this year as part of measures to rescue citizens trapped in irregular migration, human trafficking and cyber-fraud syndicates.
The repatriation includes 638 rescued in Libya, 244 rescued in Cambodia and another 360 from Côte d'Ivoire (including 45 repatriated and 315 assisted to return), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said at a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Providing details on North Africa, the Minister said the Government, working closely with the Embassy of Ghana in Tripoli, the International Organisation for Migration, Libyan authorities and other partners, facilitated three humanitarian return operations in recent months.
"A total of 638 Ghanaian nationals were safely repatriated, comprising 317 returnees on February 27, 2026, 177 on June 25, 2026, and a further 144 on July 14, 2026," he stated.
Mr Ablakwa said upon arrival, returnees underwent health screening, psychosocial support and reintegration assistance through a coordinated multi-agency response.
"The Government remains committed to facilitating additional voluntary returns and supporting sustainable reintegration programmes for returning migrants," he added.
On Asia, the Minister said the Government was intensifying efforts to assist Ghanaians stranded in Cambodia, many of whom were deceived by sophisticated cyber-enabled recruitment syndicates that promised lucrative jobs before coercing victims into online fraud operations.
"Through sustained engagement with the Cambodian authorities, the International Organisation for Migration, Counter Trafficking in Persons and other partners, the Ministry successfully facilitated the repatriation of 244 Ghanaian nationals, comprising 166 returnees initially and a further 78 by May 2026," he said.
He added that the Government also secured waivers of immigration overstay penalties for hundreds of stranded Ghanaians and continues to work with partners to facilitate the return of the remaining nationals.
The Minister indicated that since January 2026, 61 Ghanaian nationals have been rescued from various locations in Côte d'Ivoire, with 45 already repatriated, while an additional 315 Ghanaians were assisted to return home following enforcement operations in Port Bouët and surrounding communities.
Crackdown on QNET, trafficking
Mr Ablakwa described fraudulent overseas recruitment and human trafficking as "a matter of extreme concern" to the Government.
He said criminal networks continue to exploit vulnerable Ghanaians with false promises of employment, education and business opportunities abroad, exposing them to trafficking, forced labour and cyber-enabled criminal activities.
The Minister singled out the QNET scam, saying investigations showed victims are lured with promises of jobs and made to pay up to US$5,000.
"The modus operandi of these scammers is to suggest that visa arrangements can only be made from a neighbouring country. However, when the victim arrives, he or she is made to surrender their passports, mobile phones and financial resources to the network operators and subjected to psychological manipulation and pressure to recruit relatives and friends into the same scheme," he explained.
In response, he said the Government had strengthened collaboration with neighbouring countries, including the Ivorian Anti-Human Trafficking Agency. He welcomed Côte d'Ivoire's decision to criminalise QNET-related activities and strengthen its anti-human trafficking framework.
The Minister added that the Government had also intervened and repatriated Ghanaians from Togo and Liberia who were lured through fraudulent QNET recruitment schemes.
Verification
Mr Ablakwa said the Government had enhanced collaboration among national security agencies, international partners and Ghana's diplomatic missions to improve prevention, rescue, repatriation and public awareness.
He urged prospective migrants to verify overseas opportunities before travelling.
"The Ministry continues to educate and create awareness within the public to verify overseas opportunities before travelling," he said.
