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

Over 3,000 students at Suhum Technical Secondary School (SUTESCO) in Ghana's Eastern Region received crucial training on human trafficking risks and online danger on July 31, 2026. The session, organized by Engage Now Africa and Ensign Global University, aimed to protect young people from traffickers exploiting digital platforms.

Experts from law enforcement, government, academics, healthcare, and civil society gathered to educate attendees on identifying, resisting, and reporting human trafficking. As technology advances, traffickers increasingly target children and young people through fake job postings, fraudulent scholarship offers, online recruitment scams, romance scams, and deceptive social media messages.

Students were advised to scrutinize online opportunities, refrain from sharing personal details with strangers, and verify offers through trustworthy sources. Reporting suspicious activity to authorities was also emphasized. Panelists included Afasi Komla, Engage Now Africa Director; Chief Superintendent Alberta Ankrah, Ghana Immigration Service; Salome Gene, Economic and Organized Crime Office; Edith Tetteh-Charway, Ghana Police Service; Kwame Adabo, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit head in Koforidua; Ama Dzifa Amankwah, child protection expert; Ernest E. Ewusi, Suhum Municipal Assembly; and Nana Afua Ayesua McRighteous, midwifery officer and Ayesua Foundation founder.

The event reinforced organizers' dedication to shielding children from exploitation and combating online scams, emphasizing that educating young people remains vital in creating safer communities.