SIHMA

Researching Human Migration across Africa

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28 May

Lost in Transit: The Silent Victims of Human Smuggling in Ghana

Migration in Africa remains a deeply complex issue, often entangled with human smuggling and trafficking. Economic hardships, armed conflict, and natural disasters drive high migration rates, making Ghana a pivotal transit point for global smuggling operations. Vulnerable migrants, recruited through social media and personal referrals, frequently fall prey to exploitation and abuse.

 

Organised Criminal Networks

Criminal syndicates, such as the Transporters gang, charge migrants between $2,000 and $10,000 for passage to Europe. However, these payments often lead to dangerous dependencies, where migrants rely on smugglers for survival throughout perilous journeys (Enact, 2025).

The Sahara Desert route remains one of the deadliest, with migrants facing bandit attacks, extortion, and physical violence. Many are abandoned or assaulted enroute. Libya’s Sabha smuggling hub has become infamous for holding migrants in connection houses until ransom payments are secured. Those unable to pay face forced labour or slavery (Delphine Allaire , 2024).

Human smuggling networks frequently intersect with drug and arms trafficking, fuelled by corruption. While Ghana has legal frameworks in place to combat smuggling, enforcement remains a challenge. Authorities report a surge in fraudulent pyramid schemes, particularly those promising employment or educational opportunities abroad (United Nations, 2023 ). INTERPOL has urged vigilance, warning against upfront payment demands, vague job offers, and misleading depictions of luxury living online, all tactics commonly used by traffickers.

Recent joint efforts between Ghanaian and Ivorian law enforcement agencies led to the dismantling of a major trafficking ring. Investigators uncovered an elaborate scheme where individuals, tricked by false job advertisements, paid nearly $9,000 for supposed relocation to Canada, only to be trafficked to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Interpol, 2025). A successful escape by one victim provided key intelligence, prompting police raids in February 2025, which rescued 33 victims from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo. NGOs have since begun rehabilitation efforts, while legal proceedings against the main suspect, extradited to Ghana, remain ongoing.

 

Challenges at Ghana’s Borders

The Aflao border crossing between Ghana and Togo serves as a key gateway for trade, labour, and migration. However, it has also become an entry point for unauthorised migrants. Authorities reported peak interceptions of 300 individuals per day during COVID-19 border closures, with post-pandemic figures averaging 10–15 interceptions daily. To improve migration monitoring, the UNODC STARSOM project hosted training sessions in February 2023, equipping 30 officers with skills to identify vulnerable migrants and traffickers (United Nations, 2023 ).

 

Recent Convictions

Ghanaian courts continue to prosecute traffickers under the Human Trafficking Act. One notable case saw 22-year-old hairdresser Nicky Isabella sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking two Nigerian women under false employment promises. Upon arrival, they were coerced into prostitution, their earnings confiscated and subjected to ritualistic threats to ensure compliance.

DSP William Ayariga, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment: “Ghana is not a safe haven for human traffickers. Those who lure vulnerable people into Ghana and force them into prostitution will face the full force of the law” (Ghana Business News, 2025). Authorities continue efforts to track Isabella’s accomplice, while referencing previous convictions, including a 20-year sentence under the same legislation.

 

The persistence of human smuggling and trafficking networks in Ghana highlights the critical need for stronger enforcement, transnational cooperation, and awareness campaigns. While law enforcement operations signal progress, public vigilance and international collaboration remain essential in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

 

References

Delphine Allaire . (2024, July 19). The Sahara Desert: A deadly frontier for migrants. Retrieved from The Vatican: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2024-07/the-sahara-desert-a-deadly-frontier-for-migrants.html

Enact. (2025, April 07). Human smuggling / The price of passage: inside Ghana’s migrant smuggling underworld. Retrieved from Enact: https://enactafrica.org/enact-observer/the-price-of-passage-inside-ghana-s-migrant-smuggling-underworld

Ghana Business News. (2025, April 6). Nigerian woman jailed five years in Ghana for human trafficking. Retrieved from Ghana Business News: https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2025/04/06/nigerian-woman-jailed-five-years-in-ghana-for-human-trafficking/

Interpol. ( 2025, April 22 ). Human trafficking-fueled fraud ring dismantled in joint Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana operation. Retrieved from Interpol: https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2025/Human-trafficking-fueled-fraud-ring-dismantled-in-joint-Cote-d-Ivoire-Ghana-operation

United Nations. (2023 , February 2 ). UNODC expertise helps Ghana combat migrant smuggling. Retrieved from United Nations: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2023/February/unodc-expertise-helps-ghana-combat-migrant-smuggling.html

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