The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cautioned Ghanaians seeking employment opportunities in Zambia to thoroughly verify job offers, recruitment agencies and prospective employers before travelling, following reports of job seekers being lured into the country and allegedly forced into cybercrime.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said the development followed the arrest of six Ghanaians in Lusaka during a joint operation by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Department of Immigration on August 23, 2026.
The operation, which targeted a facility suspected of involvement in organised cybercrime, resulted in the arrest of 79 people, comprising 10 Zambians and 69 foreign nationals, including the six Ghanaians.
According to the statement, reports received by the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka indicated that some of those arrested had been recruited through purportedly legitimate employment opportunities, including online data-entry jobs.
However, the recruits were allegedly subjected to coercive conditions after arriving in Zambia and forced to participate in online scam activities after their passports were confiscated by their employers.
The Ministry said the development highlighted the growing use of fraudulent employment opportunities by human trafficking syndicates to lure unsuspecting job seekers into illicit activities.
Warning to job seekers
The Ministry has urged Ghanaians travelling to Zambia for employment to exercise “extreme caution” and independently verify the authenticity of employment offers before travelling.
It advised prospective job seekers to conduct thorough checks on recruitment agencies and prospective employers and to be wary of online employment opportunities that cannot be independently verified.
Ghanaians already living in Zambia have also been urged to remain vigilant when responding to job advertisements and to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka for consular assistance when necessary.
The Ministry reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and interests of Ghanaians travelling to or residing abroad.
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