Ghana is intensifying efforts to curb human trafficking linked to sports, as authorities respond to rising cases of exploitation tied to informal recruitment networks and growing demand among young athletes seeking opportunities abroad.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is set to host a national forum in Accra titled “Play It Safe: Choose the Right Path in Sports,” aimed at strengthening safeguards and coordination across government, civil society and sports institutions.
The initiative follows concerns raised by Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams over the need to reposition sports as a tool for development rather than a channel for trafficking. Research presented by IOM’s Chief of Mission, Fatou Diallo Hdiaye, shows that nearly 96% of respondents expressed interest in pursuing sports careers abroad, largely driven by expectations of better facilities and financial returns.
More than 30% reported falling victim to exploitative recruitment schemes, often linked to unlicensed agents operating outside regulatory oversight. The findings point to a growing network of informal intermediaries and unregulated academies facilitating recruitment, exposing young athletes, sports staff and volunteers to trafficking risks.
In October 2025, an 18-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Touré was killed in Kumasi after allegedly being lured to Ghana with a fake trial and then kidnapped for ransom. The incident shook the West African football community, highlighting the deeper structural failures in how young talent is identified, recruited and managed across the region.
“Ensuring athletes follow the right routes will help them benefit fully from sportsmanship,” Adams said. “Proper immigration procedures are essential, and we must promote education to transform sports into a tool for growth and development, not trafficking.”
Authorities say improved compliance with immigration processes and stronger awareness campaigns are critical to reducing vulnerabilities among aspiring athletes. The emergence of digital fraud is compounding the problem. Nearly 500 fake domains mimicking platforms linked to FIFA have been identified, targeting individuals seeking legitimate opportunities.
The risks are expected to increase ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with traffickers and scammers leveraging heightened global interest in sports. The upcoming IOM forum aims to bring together policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders to develop coordinated strategies to tackle recruitment abuses and strengthen oversight mechanisms.
Supported by the IOM Development Fund, the initiative is part of broader regional efforts to address trafficking linked to sports and protect vulnerable populations.
Officials say sustained collaboration will be essential to ensure that growing interest in international sports careers translates into safe and legitimate opportunities rather than exploitation.
