Foreign Ministry warns Ghanaians over fake Zambia job offers

The government of Ghana has issued a stern warning to its citizens seeking employment abroad, specifically targeting fraudulent job recruitment networks operating within Zambia. This advisory follows a high-profile joint security operation in Lusaka on August 23, 2026, which exposed international syndicates leveraging fake employment opportunities to trap foreign nationals in forced cybercrime. According to official reports from the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka, the crackdown took place at Evana Estates in the upscale New Kasama residential area. The multi-agency raid—conducted by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), and the Department of Immigration—resulted in the apprehension of 79 suspects. Among those detained were 10 Zambian nationals and 69 foreign nationals, including six citizens from Ghana, alongside individuals from Uganda, China, Kenya, Liberia, Burundi, Chad, and Zimbabwe. Preliminary investigations revealed that the detained Ghanaians had traveled to Zambia under the impression that they had secured legitimate employment, such as online data-entry positions. However, upon arrival, their travel documents and passports were systematically confiscated by their supposed employers. Stripped of their freedom of movement and legal identification, the victims were allegedly coerced into participating in illicit online scam networks. Security forces at the scene recovered substantial digital and communication infrastructure, including 73 desktop computers, six laptops, 140 mobile phones, Starlink internet kits, and 75 seized passports. In response to these developments, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the incident underscores a disturbing trend where human trafficking networks exploit vulnerable, unemployed youth through sophisticated online job scams. The ministry has strongly urged prospective travelers to conduct rigorous background checks, verify recruitment agencies, and authenticate job offers throug