The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana has issued a warning to its citizens seeking employment opportunities in Zambia. This caution follows reports of job seekers being lured into Zambia with fake job offers and allegedly forced into cybercrime. The warning was made public through a statement released by the Ministry.
According to the Ministry, six Ghanaians were arrested in Lusaka on August 23, 2026, during a joint operation by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission, and the Department of Immigration. The operation targeted a facility suspected of involvement in organized cybercrime, resulting in the arrest of 79 people, including 69 foreign nationals.
Reports from the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka indicated that some of those arrested had been recruited through purportedly legitimate employment opportunities, including online data-entry jobs. However, upon arrival in Zambia, the recruits were allegedly subjected to coercive conditions and forced to participate in online scam activities after their passports were confiscated by their employers.
The Ministry emphasized that this development highlights the growing use of fraudulent employment opportunities by human trafficking syndicates to lure unsuspecting job seekers into illicit activities. The Ministry's statement stressed the need for Ghanaians to exercise extreme caution when seeking employment opportunities in Zambia.
The Ministry has urged Ghanaians traveling to Zambia for employment to independently verify the authenticity of employment offers before traveling. Prospective job seekers are advised to conduct thorough checks on recruitment agencies and prospective employers and to be wary of online employment opportunities that cannot be independently verified.
Ghanaians already living in Zambia have also been urged to remain vigilant when responding to job advertisements and to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka for consular assistance when necessary. The Ministry reiterated the government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare and interests of Ghanaians traveling to or residing abroad.
The warning comes as a measure to protect Ghanaian citizens from falling prey to human trafficking syndicates. The Ministry's efforts aim to ensure that Ghanaians are aware of the risks associated with fake job offers and take necessary precautions to avoid such situations.
Key points
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns Ghanaians to verify job offers and recruitment agencies in Zambia following reports of fake job offers and cybercrime.
- Six Ghanaians were arrested in Lusaka in August 2026 for their involvement in organized cybercrime.
- The Ministry urges Ghanaians to exercise extreme caution and independently verify employment offers before traveling to Zambia.
