Accra: A coalition of civil society organizations has announced plans to establish the Ghana Civil Society Coalition Against Transnational Crime, aimed at strengthening the country's response to human trafficking for forced criminality and protecting young people increasingly targeted by international scam syndicates.
According to Ghana Web, the announcement was made at a national online forum held to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the global theme, 'Trapped Behind the Scam.' Convened by GYAN Ghana, the Democratic Network for Action (DNA), and Transnational Mobility Pathways (TMP), the forum brought together representatives from various sectors, including government institutions, the United Nations, civil society, and survivor networks.
Participants at the forum adopted a communiqu© calling for urgent action to address trafficking for forced criminality, a growing form of human trafficking in which victims are recruited through fake online job offers, transported across borders, and coerced into committing cyber-enabled fraud. The coalition is expected to be formally launched in Accra on International Youth Day on August 12, 2026, with plans to establish similar platforms across West Africa and the continent.
The communiqu© highlighted Ghana's increasing role as a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking linked to online scam operations. It cited recent incidents, including the rescue of over 100 young Ghanaians recruited through social media and the repatriation of Ghanaians from neighboring countries, as evidence of the growing issue.
Forum participants raised concerns about the victim-offender overlap, where trafficked individuals compelled to engage in online scams are often arrested or deported without being recognized as victims. The communiqu© urged Ghanaian authorities to screen rescued or returned individuals as potential trafficking victims before initiating criminal charges or deportation.
Additionally, the communiqu© called for law enforcement agencies to apply the non-punishment principle, provide legal assistance to victims, and facilitate the clearing of criminal records for those wrongfully convicted under coercion. It also emphasized the need for increased investment in shelters, counseling, and reintegration programs to prevent re-victimization.
The forum urged the Cyber Security Authority to simplify reporting suspicious online recruitment schemes and collaborate with digital platforms to identify and remove fraudulent content. It also called on financial institutions to treat suspicious transactions linked to scams as potential indicators of trafficking and cooperate with law enforcement.
At the regional level, participants advocated for stronger intelligence-sharing and joint investigations through ECOWAS and INTERPOL to dismantle transnational trafficking networks. Prevention campaigns were recommended to focus on young people, particularly on digital platforms where traffickers recruit victims.
The forum concluded with a public warning for job seekers: 'No legitimate employer takes your passport, charges you to work, or rushes you to travel. If an offer does any of these, it is not a job-it is a trap.' The communiqu© also encouraged universities and youth groups to lead awareness campaigns to help young people verify employment opportunities and recognize trafficking risks.
Lamberta Bina Abusah, co-convener of the event on behalf of GYAN Ghana, emphasized the initiative reflects years of advocacy to change perceptions about young people caught in online scam networks. She urged citizens, businesses, and governments to support global efforts against human trafficking, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Blue Heart Campaign.
The communiqu© and recommendations from the forum will be submitted to relevant state institutions, with a report and edited recording of the event to be published in the coming weeks.