In the early morning of April 17, 2024, Our Rescue Ghana joined Ghanaian authorities in one of the largest anti-trafficking and cybercrime operations in the nation’s history. Over 200 survivors—mostly young men and boys—were rescued from 22 locations across an 80-unit housing estate, many of whom had been lured from Nigeria with false promises of jobs, only to be imprisoned and forced into online romance scams.
This wasn’t just fraud. It was trafficking.
Inside the raided buildings, survivors reported being physically abused, deprived of food and sleep, and coerced into executing romance cybercrimes targeting women in Asia. Many had their phones seized, cutting off all contact with loved ones. Some were only fed once a day and forced to work up to 17 hours. Several survivors had visible injuries, and many reported suffering from stomach ulcers. Some had been held for over a year, seeing daylight only through a washroom window. One survivor shared that the day of the rescue was the first time he had felt sunlight in months.
From the beginning, Our Rescue Ghana was fully embedded—attending operational briefings, coordinating logistics, and providing transport, entry tools, and emergency supplies. Our team worked late into the night with law enforcement to help distinguish between traffickers and survivors, ensuring that those rescued were treated with dignity and compassion. Immediate medical support was arranged for those in critical condition.
Historically, this form of trafficking has not received enough attention from law enforcement. But thanks to the strong trust the Our Rescue Ghana team has built with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), that trend is changing. Early triage efforts identified 219 survivors and 30 suspects—though the investigation is still developing.
Searches at the crime scenes led to the recovery of 237 laptops, 252 mobile phones, and five vehicles suspected to belong to traffickers. These items, now in custody, will be subject to further forensic and financial investigation.
The timing of the operation—just before Easter weekend—meant that many of Our Rescue’s Ghana team members worked through Good Friday and Easter Sunday to provide trauma care, medical support, clothing, and food. By April 22, our team had helped facilitate the repatriation of many of the survivors back to Nigeria, where investigations and support services continue.
The story quickly captured national attention. GHOne TV aired a powerful segment on the operation, including a live interview with Our Rescue Ghana Country Manager Fred Akweter. His calm, steady presence reflected what he and the Our Rescue team have long believed: rescue is just the beginning, and real impact comes through committed partnership.
In Ghana, that commitment is growing. The government didn’t call on ten organizations. They called on one—Our Rescue. And when the moment came, our team was already walking beside law enforcement, not behind them.
In a debrief following the raid, Dominic Mensah, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of EOCO, said, “This operation was made possible because we could count on Our Rescue to be with us from beginning to end. From logistics support to survivor care, their response lightened our burden and helped us push forward with one of the largest operations we’ve ever undertaken.”
Raymond Archer, the Executive Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, echoed this, crediting the success of the operation to the strength of the partnership and the Our Rescue team’s expert involvement.
The Nigerian High Commissioner also personally reached out to thank Our Rescue for supporting their nationals and providing critical survivor care.
We remain on the ground, supporting the ongoing investigation and exploring long-term solutions—including enhanced cybercrime prevention labs at EOCO. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: partnership, preparation, and compassion made all the difference in rescuing these survivors.
Help fund more field operations like this today! Your support is crucial in this fight.
Our Rescue Country Manager throws more light on alarming increase in human trafficking for forced criminality in an interview with GHone following the operation: https://www.youtube.com/live/UZltEzRdxMc .
The coverage starts at 3:50, and the interview with Our Rescue Country Manager, Fred, starts at 13:45.