A total of 106 foreign nationals have been jailed after pleading guilty to unlawful entry into Ghana in October last year.

The sentence was handed down by the Accra High Court on March 12, highlighting the government’s strict enforcement of immigration laws.

Of the 106, 55 received 28-day prison sentences, while the remaining 51 were each handed four-week sentences.

After serving their sentences, the court ordered their deportation to their respective home countries.

According to the police, the accused persons, most of whom are reportedly French nationals, entered Ghana between January and October 2025. None of them reported to the nearest Immigration Office, produced valid travel documents, or completed the prescribed legal processes.

The accused persons were spotted around the Kuntunse Satellite area in Accra on October 7 last year under suspicious circumstances. After further enquiries, authorities discovered they were living in a local residence.

During interrogation, the suspects refused to provide their true identities. They were subsequently arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigation. They were later processed for court on March 12, 2026, where they pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry into Ghana.

Meanwhile, 44 Ghanaians who fell victim to the widely reported QNET scam and were lured to Nigeria have been repatriated, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The group comprised 27 men and 17 women.

They were transported back to Ghana on March 20 after being rescued from suspected human trafficking camps in Akwa Ibom, a coastal state in southern Nigeria.

Most of the victims reportedly travelled from Ghana in December last year in search of better opportunities, but were intercepted during an operation by the Nigerian police before their repatriation.

Rescue operations: Victims recount ordeal

One of the victims, recounting her experience after being lured barely a month ago, said they were apprehended during a late-night operation and criticised the approach adopted by the police.

According to her, “The police officers were dressed in black and wearing masks as though it was a kidnapping. Some of us were beaten as we tried to resist, fearing that we were being kidnapped. I was traumatised.”

Another victim said they spent four days in a private facility after their rescue before being brought back to Ghana.

Recruitment style

On how they were recruited, one victim said she was promised assistance to secure a job in South Africa and paid GH¢16,000 as a service charge, while another said he paid GH¢10,000 for similar arrangements.

A female victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had been promised travel to South Africa but was instead made to sell products on commission upon arrival in Nigeria.

“I left Ghana in December last year, and I was told I would be sent to South Africa to work. However, upon arriving in Nigeria, I was given some health products to sell on a commission basis. Although I sold some, I couldn’t meet the target to earn any commission,” she said.

She acknowledged that they were fed twice a day but said their living conditions were poor. She also expressed regret over the decision, including the loss of GH¢16,000 given to her by her father.

She called on the Ghanaian government to intensify efforts to create jobs for the youth to discourage risky migration in search of opportunities abroad.

In a related development, 320 individuals were arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Kumasi as part of efforts to combat organised crime.

The raid, carried out on November 6, 2025, was described by EOCO as a breakthrough in its ongoing operations against human trafficking and economic crimes linked to the QNET fraud scheme.

Of that number, 25 were identified as suspected members of the fraud and trafficking network, while the remaining 295 were believed to be victims who had been lured into QNET-related schemes.

The operation followed an earlier raid in Kasoa two weeks prior, which resulted in more than 26 arrests.

EOCO said the operation was the result of months of careful investigations, demonstrating its commitment to tackling organised and economic crime.

The 25 suspects were being questioned and were expected to face prosecution under Ghanaian law.

The agency also said it was working with QNET to “clamp down on the misuse of their brand name to traffic and defraud innocent individuals.”

EOCO assured the public of its continued efforts to combat financial and organised crime and urged citizens to report suspicious activities.

The QNET scheme is known for luring individuals with promises of high-paying jobs or large profits abroad. However, many victims end up deceived, trapped in debt, or forced to recruit others.