COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has blown an alarm on fraudulent football contracts linked to human trafficking, urging young athletes to exercise extra caution.
COP Lydia Yaako Donkor urged young athletes to exercise extra caution when considering overseas offers that promise lucrative football contracts, international trials and scholarships.
According to COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, sports must build dreams, not become a trap for human trafficking.
In a social media post on X, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor disclosed that criminals are exploiting the dreams of young people by using such offers to deceive and traffic them.
COP Lydia Yaako Donkor in his post wrote, “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 Organisation 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 emphasised 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”.
In related news, the Upper East Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of three Nigerian suspects, Peace Agbede, Favour Sunday Udo, and Faith Levy.
According to the Police statement, the three have been arrested for their involvement in human trafficking and forcing young women into prostitution.
In a statement issued by the Police on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, it read, “POLICE ARREST THREE SUSPECTS IN BOLGATANGA FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested suspects Peace Agbede, Favour Sunday Udo and Faith Levy for trafficking young girls and forcing them into prostitution at Gbane, a suburb of Talensi District.
Preliminary investigation revealed that suspect Peace Agbede met the victim in Nigeria and promised to help her join the Ghana movie industry because of her beauty. The victim accepted and reluctantly followed her to Ghana. On their arrival, Peace Agbede failed to fulfil her promise but rather took her to the mining site at Gbane-Tongo and coerced the victim into prostitution.
The victim is made to pay Four Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHC 400.00) a day to her madam, suspect Peace Agbede.
The victim, who had gotten pregnant, gave birth on 26/06/2026, following which suspect Peace Agbede and her accomplice, Favour Sunday Udo, visited her and tried convincing her to sell the baby for Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 20,000.00) to an interested party who was ready to pay the said amount for the child.
A search conducted in the room of suspect Peace Agbede led to the recovery of six sales recording books bearing the names Esther, Mary, Bright and Silver, and 265 unused condoms.
Police also rescued four (4) female victims aged 18 to 20 years.
Suspects are in Police custody and will be put before court”.
See the post 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
@ghnow_ Nana Yaa and her mother are travelling to London to attend a fundraising event and visit selected autism centres. The visit will provide an opportunity to learn more about autism care, support and inclusion while exploring ways to improve the lives of children with autism and special needs. ❤️ #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Nurse Shelly🩺💊💉🇺🇸🇬🇭
@ghnow_ Nana Yaa and her mother are travelling to London to attend a fundraising event and visit selected autism centres. The visit will provide an opportunity to learn more about autism care, support and inclusion while exploring ways to improve the lives of children with autism and special needs. ❤️ #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Nurse Shelly🩺💊💉🇺🇸🇬🇭
