A national anti-human trafficking forum has called on the Government of Ghana to stop prosecuting victims of trafficking for forced cybercrime. The forum warned that treating these individuals as criminals allows trafficking syndicates to thrive. This call forms part of a communiqué adopted at the National Online Forum commemorating the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Participants urged state institutions to adopt a victim-centred approach to tackling this transnational organised crime. They expressed concern that trafficked persons coerced into cyber-enabled fraud are frequently arrested, prosecuted, or deported. This occurs before authorities determine if they are indeed victims of human trafficking.
This "victim-offender overlap" denies survivors justice and enables criminal networks to evade prosecution. The forum brought together representatives from government, international organisations, civil society, and financial institutions. It highlighted how unemployment and the allure of quick money online contribute to this vulnerability.
The forum specifically urged the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to receive clear operational guidance. This guidance should apply the internationally recognised principle of non-punishment for offences committed under coercion. Participants also recommended providing legal aid to victims and establishing mechanisms to expunge criminal convictions. These convictions are often imposed on people trafficked and forced into online scams.
Beyond legal reforms, the communiqué highlighted the long-term psychological trauma experienced by survivors. Many face rejection and stigma upon returning to their communities. Inadequate support systems leave survivors vulnerable to being trafficked a second time. The forum urged the government to strengthen the Human Trafficking Secretariat and improve referral systems. This includes expanding access to shelters, trauma-informed counselling, rehabilitation services, and reintegration programmes.
The communiqué described trafficking for forced criminality as a crime at the intersection of human trafficking and cybercrime. Criminal syndicates increasingly target educated, English-speaking, and digitally literate young people. They use fake online job advertisements circulated on social media and other digital platforms. To combat this trend, participants called on the Cyber Security Authority to simplify public reporting of suspicious recruitment schemes. They also urged collaboration with social media companies and telecommunications operators to remove fraudulent content.
The Financial Intelligence Centre, banks, and mobile money providers were urged to treat suspicious financial transactions as potential indicators of human trafficking. They should distinguish between criminal organisers and victims whose accounts may have been used under coercion. Recognising the cross-border nature of the crime, the communiqué called for deeper collaboration among ECOWAS member states, INTERPOL, and international partners. This collaboration should involve intelligence-sharing, joint investigations, and coordinated law enforcement operations.
Participants also appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana's diplomatic missions to strengthen consular support and assisted return programmes. These are for Ghanaians trapped in trafficking compounds abroad. The communiqué further urged international organisations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support victim identification, reintegration, and data collection efforts. The forum called for sustained awareness campaigns targeting young people through social media and peer educators. It promoted a simple message: "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."