Students Warned Against Fake Online Jobs and Scholarships as Traffickers Target Youth
Over 3,000 students in the Eastern Region receive guidance on spotting online scams, fraudulent opportunities and recruitment tactics used by human traffickers.
- 3,000+ students sensitised on the dangers of human trafficking.
- Students warned about fake jobs, scholarships, recruitment schemes and romance scams.
- Young people urged to verify online opportunities and report suspicious activities.
More than 3,000 students of Suhum Technical Secondary School (SUTESCO) in the Eastern Region have been cautioned about the growing threat of human trafficking and the use of digital platforms by traffickers to lure young people.
The warning was issued during a sensitisation programme organised by Engage Now Africa in partnership with Ensign Global University.
Held under the theme “Protecting Our Children; Ending Human Trafficking in Ghana,” the programme brought together experts from law enforcement, government institutions, academia, healthcare and civil society to educate students on identifying, preventing and reporting human trafficking.
Speakers said the rapid expansion of technology and social media had created new opportunities for traffickers and cybercriminals to reach potential victims, particularly children and young people.
Students were urged to be cautious of online job advertisements, scholarship offers, recruitment schemes and other opportunities that appear too good to be true.
They were also warned about romance scams and deceptive messages shared through social media, gaming platforms and other digital channels.
The students were encouraged to verify employment, scholarship and recruitment opportunities through trusted and legitimate sources before responding or providing personal information.
They were further advised not to share sensitive details with strangers online and to report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
Speakers stressed that digital awareness and online safety had become increasingly important in efforts to protect young people from trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
The panel 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.
Other panellists were ASP Edith Tetteh-Charway of the Ghana Police Service; Kwame Adabo, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Koforidua; international lawyer and child protection expert Ama Dzifa Amankwah; 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.
Organisers said the engagement was designed to give students practical knowledge and tools to protect themselves and their peers from exploitation, both online and offline.
They expressed appreciation to the management, staff and students of SUTESCO, Ensign Global University, the invited speakers and panellists, as well as the Engage Now Africa team, for supporting the initiative.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children, tackling online scams and cybercrime, and contributing to national efforts to end human trafficking.
They said empowering young people with accurate information and practical digital-safety skills was essential to creating safer communities where children could grow and live free from exploitation.
