More than 500 Ghanaians are currently trapped in Côte d’Ivoire after being deceived by a criminal network that used the name “Q-Net” to lure them with false promises of job placement and visa processing.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed this during Parliament on July 23, 2025.
Victims were told they would transit through Côte d’Ivoire en route to jobs in Europe, Canada and the Middle East, and paid amounts ranging from GH₵18,000 to GH₵40,000 for these services.
Ablakwa added that Ghana has already managed to rescue and return over 400 citizens who had been trafficked via this scheme between 2021 and 2025.
This included more than 200 people recently relocated from Nigeria. Despite these efforts, over 500 Ghanaians still remain in isolated locations in Côte d’Ivoire, and more than 200 are held in Nigeria .
The Ghanaian government is coordinating with Ivorian immigration authorities and Interpol to locate and rescue the remaining victims.
Ghana’s embassies in affected countries are also providing consular support to those identified .
To prevent future incidents, the government, in partnership with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), plans to launch nationwide public awareness campaigns from September 2025 to warn citizens about scams involving fraudulent job offers and travel documentation services operating under names like Q‑Net .
No arrests have been made yet in connection with the scheme. Minister Ablakwa urged the public to share any credible information that could help identify the criminals behind the operation.
This situation reflects a broader challenge facing Ghanaian youth seeking opportunities abroad, and highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to safeguard citizens and dismantle transnational trafficking networks.