Forty-four Ghanaians who were trapped in a QNET-linked scheme in Nigeria have been repatriated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group—comprising 27 men and 17 women—arrived in Ghana on March 20, 2026, after being rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom.
Most of the victims had left Ghana in December last year, lured by promises of better job opportunities, but were intercepted by Nigerian police before reaching their intended destinations.
Surviving the nightmare
One victim, who spent just a month in Nigeria, recounted the arrest:
“The police officers were dressed in black and were wearing masks as though it was a kidnapping. Some of us were beaten in an attempt to resist, fearing that we were being kidnapped. I was traumatised.”
Another victim reported being held in a private facility for four days before being sent home.
Several victims said they had paid large sums to secure jobs abroad—GH¢16,000 in one case and GH¢10,000 in another—only to end up selling health products on a commission basis in Nigeria. One woman explained:
“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.”
Although they were fed twice daily, many described the conditions as harsh and expressed regret over the money they lost. Several also urged the government to create more employment opportunities for young people locally.
Government response
John Kwasi Boakye, Director of Consular Affairs, cautioned Ghanaians against fraudulent recruitment schemes and encouraged the returnees to share their experiences:
“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.”
He also commended Nigerian authorities for their cooperation and urged citizens to thoroughly verify overseas job offers before making any financial commitments.
