Latest news with #LydiaYaakoDonkor
Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Business Insider
Dozens of trafficked Ghanaians rescued in Nigeria
Ghanaian authorities claim that over 70 of its citizens trafficked to Nigeria under the guise of an employment scheme have been rescued. Over 70 Ghanaian citizens trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent employment scheme have been rescued. Victims were promised football careers, job placements, or visa assistance, later facing exploitation and mistreatment. The fraudulent job scheme promised overseas jobs in football with top foreign teams, job placements abroad, or visa assistance. When the Ghanaian victims arrived, their phones and travel documents were confiscated, and they were kept in cramped and unconducive quarters, according to a statement from the police. To obtain approximately $1,000 (£727) under the pretense of paying training or facilitation costs, the victims were forced to contact their relatives. As reported by the BBC, the police statement also revealed that the scammers conned the victims' friends and family by using their phone contact lists. Lydia Yaako Donkor, head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), revealed that the rescue mission was conducted with the aid of Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. The victims were rescued from numerous states in Nigeria, between May 19 and June 27 of this year, and they have not yet been sent back to Ghana to be with their relatives. So far, around 7 Ghanaians have been arrested in connection with the scam. "The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating," Ghana's CID head stated, adding that in many cases, the victims are "so malnourished and psychologically affected" that they are unable to resume their normal lives. The international lifestyle and wellness marketing firm QNET, which was allegedly associated with the recruitment scam, has been prohibited from doing business in Ghana since 2022 due to allegations that it operated a Ponzi scheme. On several occasions, the company has refuted any role in the conspiracy.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Dozens of Ghanaians trafficked in job scam rescued in Nigeria
Some 76 Ghanaians who were trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent recruitment scheme have been rescued, Ghanaian police say. The victims, mostly young men, were lured with promises of football contracts with top foreign teams, job placements abroad or assistance with visa processing. Upon arrival, their travel documents and mobile phones were seized, and they were housed in overcrowded rooms under poor conditions, police say. The victims were forced to contact their families to solicit about $1,000 (£727) in the guise of paying training or facilitation fees. The fraud masterminds also allegedly used the victims' phone contact lists to scam their friends and relatives. Seven Ghanaian suspects have been arrested in connection with the trafficking. The head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said at a press briefing that the rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. The victims were rescued from different states in Nigeria between 19 May and 27 June this year, and are yet to be repatriated to be reunited with their families in Ghana. The CID boss cautioned families to verify lucrative job offers and educational opportunities abroad before taking them up. She said once the victims are convinced into the scam, they are usually instructed to travel by road to an unfamiliar country. They are later transferred to "holding camps" - rented rooms where as many as 40 people are forced to live in substandard conditions. Under pressure, they are coerced into recruiting others, deceiving even their own families and friends, Ms Donkor said. "The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating," she said, adding that in many cases, the victims are "so malnourished and psychologically affected" that they are unable to resume their normal lives. QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness marketing company allegedly linked to the recruitment scam, has been banned from operating in Ghana since 2022 for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme. The company has repeatedly denied any involvement in fraudulent activities. Cases of individuals being lured with false job promises and getting into internet fraud schemes are not uncommon in Ghana and Nigeria. The police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all of those behind the scam. BBC undercover filming exposes Indian pharma firm fuelling opioid crisis Podcast: How to reduce west Africa's smuggling problem Ghanaian children wrongly taken in raids backed by US charity IJM India bans two opioids behind crisis in West Africa Secret filming reveals brazen tactics of UK immigration scammers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Ghana police say they have rescued dozens from Nigeria job scam
Some 76 Ghanaians who were trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent recruitment scheme have been rescued, Ghanaian police say. The victims, mostly young men, were lured with promises of football contracts with top foreign teams, job placements abroad or assistance with visa arrival, their travel documents and mobile phones were seized, and they were housed in overcrowded rooms under poor conditions, police victims were forced to contact their families to solicit about $1,000 (£727) in the guise of paying training or facilitation fees. The fraud masterminds also allegedly used the victims' phone contact lists to scam their friends and relatives. Seven Ghanaian suspects have been arrested in connection with the head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said at a press briefing that the rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement victims were rescued from different states in Nigeria between 19 May and 27 June this year, and are yet to be repatriated to be reunited with their families in CID boss cautioned families to verify lucrative job offers and educational opportunities abroad before taking them said once the victims are convinced into the scam, they are usually instructed to travel by road to an unfamiliar are later transferred to "holding camps" - rented rooms where as many as 40 people are forced to live in substandard conditions. Under pressure, they are coerced into recruiting others, deceiving even their own families and friends, Ms Donkor said."The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating," she said, adding that in many cases, the victims are "so malnourished and psychologically affected" that they are unable to resume their normal a global lifestyle and wellness marketing company allegedly linked to the recruitment scam, has been banned from operating in Ghana since 2022 for allegedly running a Ponzi company has repeatedly denied any involvement in fraudulent of individuals being lured with false job promises and getting into internet fraud schemes are not uncommon in Ghana and police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all of those behind the scam. You may also be interested in: BBC undercover filming exposes Indian pharma firm fuelling opioid crisisPodcast: How to reduce west Africa's smuggling problemGhanaian children wrongly taken in raids backed by US charity IJMIndia bans two opioids behind crisis in West AfricaSecret filming reveals brazen tactics of UK immigration scammers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
