CID cautions youth against fraudulent football contracts linked to human trafficking

The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, has urged young athletes to exercise extra caution when considering overseas offers that promise lucrative football contracts, international trials and scholarships.

According to her, some criminals are exploiting the dreams of young people by using such offers to deceive and traffic them.

Ghana upgraded to Tier 1 in 2026 US Trafficking in Persons Report

She made this known in an address on Addressing Human Trafficking in Sports in Ghana at a training programme supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

“Every young athlete dreams of an opportunity to succeed. For some, it is a professional football contract, an international trial, or a scholarship abroad. Unfortunately, criminal networks are exploiting these dreams to deceive and traffic vulnerable young people,” she shared on her X account on October 16, 2026.

Donkor also urged parents, coaches, football academies, sports administrators and young athletes to verify sporting opportunities before accepting them.

She asserted that young people should not have to risk their freedom, dignity or future in pursuit of their sporting ambitions.

“Promises of international contracts, scholarships, and professional opportunities must be carefully verified. No young person should lose their freedom, dignity, or future while pursuing a sporting dream,” she continued.

Donkor said the CID remained committed to strengthening investigations, protecting victims and working with sporting institutions and international partners to identify and dismantle human trafficking networks.

She stressed that sports should provide young people with opportunities for growth and success, rather than expose them to exploitation.

Border vigilance key after repatriation of 120 trafficked Nigerians — Lawyer

Donkor concluded by calling for greater efforts to protect young athletes and ensure they could pursue their dreams under safe circumstances.

Read the statement below:

SPORTS MUST BUILD DREAMS, NOT BECOME A TRAP FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Every young athlete dreams of an opportunity to succeed. For some, it is a professional football contract, an international trial, or a scholarship abroad. Unfortunately, criminal networks are exploiting these dreams to deceive and traffic vulnerable young people.

I delivered an address on “Addressing Human Trafficking in Sports in Ghana” at a training programme supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, focused on strengthening the capacity of officers to identify, investigate, and prevent human trafficking.

In my remarks, I emphasized the need for parents, coaches, football academies, sports administrators, and young athletes to remain vigilant. Promises of international contracts, scholarships, and professional opportunities must be carefully verified. No young person should lose their freedom, dignity, or future while pursuing a sporting dream.

At the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), we remain committed to strengthening intelligence-led investigations, protecting victims, and working with sporting institutions and international partners to identify and dismantle trafficking networks.

Sports should remain a pathway to opportunity, discipline, and national pride. As we strengthen Ghana’s fight against human trafficking, our responsibility is to ensure that young talents are protected from exploitation and given the opportunity to pursue their dreams safely.

Let us protect their dreams, safeguard their future, and ensure that no child becomes a victim of trafficking in the name of sports.

— Lydia Yaako Donkor (@lydiadonkor13) October 16, 2026

MAG/VPO

Inside Ghana’s Abandoned Engineering Powerhouse: What Went Wrong?