Students warned against fake online jobs, scholarships as traffickers target young people

More than 3,000 students of Suhum Technical Secondary School (SUTESCO) in the Eastern Region have been sensitised to the growing threat of human trafficking and the increasing use of digital platforms by traffickers and cybercriminals to target young people.

The awareness programme, held on Friday, July 31, 2026, was organised by Engage Now Africa in partnership with Ensign Global University under the theme, “Protecting Our Children; Ending Human Trafficking in Ghana.”

The initiative brought together experts from law enforcement, government institutions, academia, healthcare and civil society to educate students on how to recognise potential trafficking situations, protect themselves from exploitation and report suspicious activities.

Speakers at the programme warned that the rapid expansion of digital technology and social media has created new opportunities for traffickers to identify, manipulate and recruit potential victims.

Young people were particularly cautioned about deceptive online approaches that may appear harmless but could eventually expose them to trafficking, exploitation or other forms of abuse.

Among the schemes highlighted were fake job advertisements, fraudulent scholarship offers, online recruitment schemes, romance scams and deceptive messages circulated through social media and online gaming platforms.

Students were encouraged to be cautious when approached with opportunities that appear unusually attractive or require them to provide personal information or communicate privately with strangers.

They were also advised to verify job and scholarship offers through trusted institutions before responding or sharing information.

The organisers stressed that human trafficking is no longer confined to physical environments, as traffickers increasingly use digital platforms to reach potential victims.

They said young people must therefore develop the skills needed to identify suspicious online behaviour and protect their personal information.

Students were encouraged to avoid sharing sensitive information such as identification details, passwords, financial information, home addresses and other private data with people they meet online.

They were also urged to report suspicious messages, recruitment attempts or other activities that could be linked to trafficking or exploitation.

According to the organisers, early reporting can help law enforcement agencies intervene before potential victims are exposed to serious harm.

The seminar featured a panel of experts with experience in combating human trafficking, organised crime, child protection and community development.

The panellists included Afasi Komla, Director of Engage Now Africa and an anti-human trafficking expert; Chief Superintendent Alberta Ankrah, National Head of the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service; and SO Salome Gene, National Acting Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Other panellists were ASP Edith Tetteh-Charway of the Ghana Police Service; Kwame Adabo, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Koforidua; Ama Dzifa Amankwah, an international lawyer and child protection expert; Ernest E. Ewusi, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Suhum Municipal Assembly; and Nana Afua Ayesua McRighteous, a midwifery officer and founder of the Ayesua Foundation.

The experts used the engagement to provide students with practical information on identifying warning signs and responding appropriately to potentially dangerous situations.

Organisers said the programme was designed not only to protect individual students but also to encourage young people to look out for their peers.

They emphasised that students who recognise suspicious recruitment attempts or potentially exploitative situations should not remain silent.

Instead, they should seek assistance from trusted adults, school authorities or the appropriate law enforcement and child protection agencies.

The organisers said empowering students with accurate information would help reduce their vulnerability to traffickers and online criminals.

The engagement formed part of broader efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking and strengthen child protection in Ghana.

The organisers said combating trafficking requires cooperation between government agencies, schools, parents, civil society organisations, law enforcement agencies and communities.

They expressed appreciation to the management, staff and students of SUTESCO, Ensign Global University, the speakers and panellists, as well as the Engage Now Africa team for supporting the initiative.

They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children, combating online scams and cybercrime, and supporting national efforts to end human trafficking.

The organisers stressed that equipping young people with knowledge and practical digital safety skills remains essential to building safer communities where children and young people can live and pursue their ambitions without fear of exploitation.