By Philip Antoh
A new survivor-informed coalition aimed at combating human trafficking and transnational organized crime will be officially launched in Accra on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, coinciding with International Youth Day.
The Ghana Civil Society Coalition (GCSC) Against Transnational Crime was first announced on July 30 following the “Trapped Behind the Scam” national forum convened by Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) Ghana, the Democratic Network for Action (DNA), and Transnational Mobility Pathways (TMP). Organizers have now opened public sign-ups for the initiative.
The Coalition is a direct response to the rising threat of “trafficking for forced criminality”—a trend where young people are lured by fake job advertisements, only to have their passports confiscated, debt imposed, and movements restricted. Victims are then forced to run cyber-enabled fraud schemes under the threat of violence.
While this pattern originally gained notoriety in Southeast Asia, it has taken firm root in West Africa. Ghana has recently witnessed a surge in these operations, with over 100 youths rescued in Ho in January, 44 Ghanaians rescued from Nigeria in March, 28 repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire in May, and nine victims rescued with ten arrests in Afienya in July.
Organizers note that Ghana is now a source, transit, and destination for these interconnected networks, which also move weapons, narcotics, gold, and illicit funds protected by corruption.
To address this, the Coalition has outlined a five-point agenda based on a recently adopted Communiqué:
Non-Punishment: Ensuring rescued individuals are screened as trafficking victims before facing criminal charges or deportation, with access to legal aid and expungement of records for crimes committed under duress.
Easier Reporting: Partnering with the Cyber Security Authority to simplify reporting and pressure digital platforms to remove fraudulent job content.
Following the Money: Engaging the Financial Intelligence Centre, banks, and mobile money operators to trace, freeze, and treat scam-linked transactions as trafficking indicators.
Cross-Border Protection: Deepening cooperation via INTERPOL and ECOWAS to protect Ghanaians trapped abroad.
Youth-Led Prevention: Educating youth that legitimate employers do not confiscate passports, charge recruitment fees, or rush travel.
Membership is free. Organizations registering as Founding Members by Monday, August 10, will be recognized in the launch program. Individual supporters—including youth, survivors, and journalists—can also sign up at gcscoalition.org/membership/ to receive alerts and prevention materials. The Coalition ultimately aims to expand into West African and continental networks.