Engage Now Africa, in partnership with Ensign Global University, has sensitised more than 3,000 students of Suhum Technical Secondary School (SUTESCO) in the Eastern Region to the dangers of human trafficking, online exploitation and cybercrime.

The sensitisation seminar, held on Friday, July 31, 2026, formed part of efforts to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to recognise, resist and report activities that could expose them to trafficking and exploitation.

Held under the theme “Protecting Our Children; Ending Human Trafficking in Ghana,” the programme brought together experts from law enforcement, government institutions, academia, healthcare and civil society.

The organisers said the changing nature of technology had created new avenues for traffickers and cybercriminals to target children and young people.

They noted that fake job advertisements, fraudulent scholarship offers, online recruitment schemes, romance scams and deceptive messages on social media and gaming platforms were increasingly being used to lure unsuspecting victims.

Students were therefore encouraged to exercise caution when engaging with strangers online and to critically assess opportunities presented to them through digital platforms.

They were also advised to protect their personal information, verify job and scholarship offers through trusted sources and report suspicious online activities to the appropriate authorities.

The organisers stressed that preventing human trafficking required sustained public education, particularly among young people who were increasingly exposed to digital risks.

Experts share insights

The seminar featured a panel of experts with experience in human trafficking, law enforcement, child protection, healthcare and social welfare.

They included Mr Afasi Komla, Director of Engage Now Africa and an anti-human trafficking expert; Chief Superintendent Alberta Ankrah, National Head of the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit (AHSTIP) of the Ghana Immigration Service; and SO Salome Gene, National Acting Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Other panellists included ASP Mrs Edith Tetteh-Charway of the Ghana Police Service; Mr Kwame Adabo, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Koforidua; Mrs Ama Dzifa Amankwah, an international lawyer and child protection expert; Mr Ernest E. Ewusi, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Suhum Municipal Assembly; and Nana Afua Ayesua McRighteous, a midwifery officer and founder of the Ayesua Foundation.

The experts provided students with practical guidance on identifying potential trafficking situations, protecting themselves from exploitation and responding to suspicious recruitment attempts.

The organisers also used the programme to highlight the growing importance of digital safety in the fight against human trafficking, stressing that young people needed to understand how online platforms could be exploited by criminals.

Engage Now Africa and Ensign Global University expressed appreciation to the management, staff and students of SUTESCO, the speakers and panellists, and all partners who contributed to the success of the programme.

They reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives aimed at protecting children, combating online scams and cybercrime, and strengthening efforts to end human trafficking in Ghana.

The organisers said empowering young people with knowledge remained critical to building safer communities where children could grow and pursue opportunities without fear of exploitation.