Criminal networks are increasingly exploiting the dreams of young Ghanaian athletes promising overseas scholarships, football contracts and professional trials while luring unsuspecting victims into exploitative and dangerous situations abroad.
The warning took center stage at the launch of activities for this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Accra.
Under the theme “Human Trafficking Can End The Time is Now,” stakeholders urged action against human trafficking, especially the growing exploitation of young athletes through fake football contracts, false scholarships, and fraudulent overseas trial offers.
Addressing government officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, anti-trafficking advocates and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey described sports trafficking as an emerging threat that is preying on the ambitions of vulnerable young people.
She warned that traffickers and unscrupulous agents were increasingly disguising exploitation as legitimate sporting opportunities, luring victims with promises of scholarships, international professional contracts, and football trials.
Sport is meant to inspire hope, discipline, opportunity and national pride,” Dr Lartey noted. “Unfortunately, traffickers and exploiters are increasingly taking advantage of these dreams through false promises of sports contracts, scholarships, trials and recruitment opportunities.”
According to the minister, many victims ultimately find themselves trapped in exploitative working conditions, irregular migration arrangements and trafficking situations far removed from the opportunities they were promised.
She, therefore, urged parents, guardians and communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruitment activity before vulnerable young people fall victim to exploitation.
Dr Lartey reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking through the rigorous enforcement of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), as amended by the Human Trafficking Amendment Act, 2009 (Act 784), alongside child protection and cybercrime legislation.
She said state institutions were working closely with law enforcement agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, development partners and community actors to prevent trafficking, rescue victims, prosecute offenders and support survivors.
The minister attributed much of the increase in rescue figures to intensified action against cyber-enabled romance scam networks. She revealed that 206 offenders had been prosecuted and convicted for cybercrime, trafficking and fraud by false pretences, including exploitation-related offences. Additionally, 64 offenders were convicted for human trafficking and child labour-related offences following investigations into 2,022 cases in 2025.
The figures further showed that of the 1,544 victims rescued, 1,544 were men and 765 were women. “These figures are not just numbers,” Dr Lartey stressed.
They demonstrate improved collaboration among institutions, strengthened enforcement awareness, enhanced capacity to identify and rescue victims, and a strengthened resolve to bring perpetrators to justice.”
The minister disclosed that Ghana’s anti-trafficking efforts were producing increasingly measurable results. The number of victims rescued rose from 821 in 2021 to 1,099 in 2022 before surging to 2,089 in 2023. Although the figure dipped marginally to 1,993 in 2024, it rebounded strongly in 2025, when authorities rescued 2,131 victims nationwide. Of the victims rescued last year, 425 were children, while 1,996 were adults.
Key Legislation Against Trafficking
Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) Primary legislation criminalising all forms of human trafficking in Ghana.
Human Trafficking Amendment Act, 2009 (Act 784) – Strengthened provisions for prosecution and victim protection.
Child Protection Laws -Governs safeguarding and prosecution of offences involving minors.
Cybercrime Legislation – Covers online recruitment, romance scams, and digital trafficking networks.
Media Role Critical
The Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, Dominic Hlordzi, affirmed the media’s critical role in exposing trafficking syndicates, educating the public and promoting justice for victims. He noted that communities around the Volta Lake had long attracted national attention as suspected hotspots for trafficking and exploitative child labour practices, with sustained media coverage helping to mobilise support for rescue operations and interventions.