*Duped Of Millions After Fake S/Africa Job Promises
*Sent To Hawk Health Products On Streets
Some members of a group of Ghanaians, comprising 27 men and 17 women, rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom State by Nigerian security agents,have narrated tales of woe following their successful return back to the late Kwame Nkrumah’s country.
They arrived home by bus on 20 March, 2026.
According to a story run by Ghana’s Graphic Online, sighted by People&Politics, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the victims were lured to Nigeria under the guise of opportunities linked to QNET scheme.
QNET is a Hong Kong-based multi-level marketing (MLM) company that has faced significant criticism and accusations of operating a pyramid scheme, particularly in Africa where it is linked to deceptive recruitment, financial loss, and trafficking.
While QNET sells wellness products, critics argue its business model relies on recruiting new members who pay high fees, rather than product sales.
Criminal gangs and agents allegedly promise lucrative jobs abroad (Dubai, Europe, North America, other places) to lure victims, only to reveal a QNET-related required “investment” or registration fee.
Most of the victims of the Nigeria scam were reported to have travelled out of Ghana last December in search of better opportunities after paying hefty sums to some unidentified Nigerians as “service charge”, “registration fee”, and so on.
Ordeal In Nigeria
Recounting their experiences and how they were recruited, one victim said she was promised assistance to secure a job in South Africa, adding that towards this end, she paid GH¢16,000 (about N2.07m) as a service charge, while another said he paid GH¢10,000 (about N1.27m) for similar arrangements.
Another female victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had been promised travel to South Africa but was instead engaged in selling products on commission upon arrival in Nigeria.
“I left Ghana in December last year, and I was told I’ll be sent to South Africa to work. However, arriving in Nigeria, I was given some health products to sell on a commission basis. Although I sold some, I couldn’t meet the mark to get any commission,” she said.
She added that although they were fed twice daily, the conditions were far from satisfactory and expressed regret over the decision, including the loss of GH¢16,000 given to her by her father.
She appealed to the government to intensify efforts to create jobs for the youth to discourage risky migration in search of opportunities abroad.
Arrest
One of the victims said they were apprehended during a late-night operation.
“The police officers were dressed in black and were wearing masks as though it was a kidnapping. Some of us were beaten in an attempt to resist, fearing that we were being kidnapped. I was traumatised,” he said.
Another told Graphic Online that they spent four days in a private facility before being returned to Ghana.
Mixed Reactions
Graphic Online reported that it (newspaper) observed that the returnees expressed mixed feelings upon arrival.
While some commended the government for facilitating their return, others were unhappy about the circumstances of their arrest.
Further engagement revealed that much of their disappointment stemmed from the financial losses incurred, with some still holding the view that the venture could have been profitable if they had continued.
Government Caution
Addressing newsmen, Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Kwasi Boakye, cautioned Ghanaians to be wary of fraudulent recruitment schemes.
He urged the public, particularly the youth, to conduct thorough checks with the security services and the Ministry before committing to overseas job offers.
Mr Boakye said the Ministry was intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking and support victims of such schemes, while commending the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation.
“No one should be a victim of this QNET scam in our country again,” Mr Boakye said.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the victims.
