By Alex Ababio
A suspected human trafficking ring operating from an apartment complex in Effiakuma New Site has been dismantled, following the dramatic escape of a young man believed to be among dozens held against their will. Police have rescued 25 victims—six of them women—and arrested five suspects in connection with the case.
The incident came to light on Sunday, June 1, when a man in his late twenties, frail and frightened, emerged from the shadows of captivity and ran into the Effiakuma Zongo community seeking help.
“I couldn’t understand a word he said,” recalled Abdul Ganiyu, a local resident who first encountered the escapee. “But I knew he was in trouble.” Ganiyu later identified the man’s language as Dyula, spoken in parts of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The victim, with broken words and hand gestures, recounted how he and his wife had been lured into Ghana by a bogus job recruitment offer.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Ganiyu alerted Assembly Member for Effiakuma Zongo, Hamza Mohammed Ameen Adam, who immediately intervened.
“I wasted no time,” Adam told reporters. “We formed a team and followed the man back to the house he fled from. What we found there was shocking.”
The team, supported by local police, stormed an eight-bedroom house near the Takoradi Technical University campus. Inside, 25 victims were found in dire conditions—some too weak to stand, many visibly malnourished, with no beds, blankets, or basic necessities.
“It was heartbreaking,” said a police officer involved in the operation. “There were women among them, and the only things in the rooms were bags, charms, and what appeared to be voodoo artifacts.”
Initial investigations have led to the arrest of five individuals—four men and one woman—believed to be at the center of the operation. They are currently assisting police with further inquiries. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to identify the owner of the building, who remains at large.
Authorities suspect that most of the victims are from Côte d’Ivoire, based on interactions with those rescued. “One of the victims asked to call his mother back home,” said a source close to the investigation.
Police have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that all necessary support will be provided to the victims.
This incident adds to growing concerns about human trafficking and cross-border scams targeting vulnerable individuals in West Africa.