CID warns of 'Model Q' trafficking network crime across Africa
via GhanaWeb5 min read
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department CID of the Ghana Police Service, has issued a warning about a dangerous transformation in human trafficking across West and Central Africa. Traditional recruitment methods are being replaced by sophisticated digital deception, with organized criminal syndicates exploiting online platforms to lure vulnerable individuals. This new criminal model, known as 'Model Q,' uses social media, fraudulent employment websites, and online recruitment platforms to identify and deceive victims with fake job offers, scholarships, or business opportunities abroad. Victims are persuaded to pay processing fees via mobile money before traveling, only to find the promised opportunities disappear upon crossing international borders, leaving them in exploitative situations. DCOP Donkor explained that the digital nature of this recruitment allows traffickers to coordinate operations across multiple countries while remaining largely hidden from law enforcement. Victims often have their identity documents confiscated, communications monitored, and movements controlled. A disturbing aspect of 'Model Q' is that victims are frequently forced to recruit friends, relatives, and acquaintances into the same criminal network, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. Understanding how digital deception reshapes human trafficking is crucial for law enforcement agencies to dismantle these networks and provide support to victims. This w
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Samuel A. Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member on Parliament鈥檚 Foreign Affairs Committee, has called for a comprehensive national evacuation policy to protect Ghanaians abroad. He expressed solidarity with Ghanaians in South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks and a reported death, urging national unity and government support for those affected. Jinapor highlighted Ghana's past successful evacuations during the Liberian civil war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but emphasized the lack of a permanent institutional framework. He suggested legislating an evacuation policy and establishing a dedicated authority for citizens in distress abroad. The Minority has consistently raised this issue in Parliament and plans to engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jinapor also supported the government's decision to petition the African Union regarding the recurring attacks, describing them as systemic issues in South Africa that authorities need to address. He stressed that the safety of Ghanaians abroad is a national concern beyond partisan politics, calling for cooperation among government, Parliament, diplomatic missions, and other stakeholders.
The Ghana Tourism Authority GTA has launched the 'Blue Ghana Initiative' to address plastic pollution and protect Ghana's coastline. This campaign aims to mobilize citizens, businesses, and institutions for better waste management and environmental conservation, following the devastating floods in Accra on June 29, 2026, which were exacerbated by poor waste disposal. Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto, emphasized that Ghana's beaches are vital tourist attractions and national treasures, stating that the country's waste problem begins before rubbish reaches the sea. The initiative calls on manufacturers of plastic-packaged products to support recycling and improved waste management. The GTA also plans to establish the Blue Ghana Foundation to secure financial and material support for beach conservation and environmental education. Houadjeto stressed that protecting Ghana's coastline requires a collective effort from all Ghanaians and institutions.
Must ReadGhana and Rwanda have jointly unveiled two permanent monuments at Burma Camp in Accra to honor victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the role of Ghanaian peacekeepers. The monuments, constructed by the government of Rwanda, were unveiled on July 6, 2026, by Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Rwanda's Minister of Justice, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja. The ministers also laid wreaths for the over one million lives lost. Ablakwa stated that the monuments recognize the bravery and sacrifice of Ghanaian peacekeepers who served under the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda UNAMIR. He commended Rwanda for constructing these symbols of appreciation for the Ghana Armed Forces' efforts to protect Rwandan lives, particularly those led by Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho, who remained when other international forces withdrew. Ablakwa also praised the decision of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings' administration to keep Ghanaian troops in Rwanda during the genocide. He noted that Major General Anyidoho had previously received Rwanda's highest national award for bravery from President Paul Kagame. Ablakwa expressed hope that the monuments would serve as a lasting reminder to reject hatred and division.