Vigilance against sports trafficking
This week, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), at a media launch ahead of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, called for heightened vigilance against sports trafficking and the exploitation of young athletes.
The global theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Human Trafficking Can End: The Time is Now — Blow the Whistle on Sports Trafficking.”
Observed annually on July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was instituted by the United Nations to raise awareness about the plight of trafficked persons and the need to protect their rights.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, trafficking in persons refers to “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons — by force, coercion, fraud or some other form of deception — for the purpose of exploitation.”
Human trafficking remains one of the most disturbing crimes globally because it thrives on vulnerability, false promises and desperation. Increasingly, traffickers are exploiting the dreams of young people who aspire to build careers in sports, particularly football and athletics.
The statistics presented by the sector minister at the launch are deeply worrying.
Rescued victims of human trafficking in Ghana rose from 821 in 2021 to 846 in 2022 before increasing sharply to 2,089 in 2023.
Although the figure dropped slightly to 1,994 in 2024, it surged again in 2025 with 2,331 victims rescued nationwide.
Out of the 2025 figure, 425 were children, while 1,996 were adults.
Additionally, 1,544 of the victims were men and 789 were women.
These figures show that trafficking remains a serious national concern requiring sustained and collective action.
Indeed, the exploitative nature of human trafficking is increasingly being disguised through promises of sports opportunities, overseas contracts, scholarships and the allure of fame, medals and money.
Many young athletes and their families are lured into believing they are being offered legitimate opportunities abroad, only to end up abandoned, exploited or trapped in difficult situations.
FIFA itself acknowledges the danger. In an article on its website titled “It’s up to all of us,” the organisation notes that every year, thousands of young people, particularly from Africa, Asia and South America, are at risk of being sold the false dream of a football career in Europe by individuals seeking to exploit them for profit.
To address the problem, FIFA in 2019 launched the FIFA Guardians Programme to help member associations and confederations strengthen child safeguarding measures in football.
Likewise, World Athletics has safeguarding policies aimed at protecting athletes, especially minors, who travel abroad in pursuit of sporting careers.
However, despite these interventions, exploitation persists, underscoring the need for constant vigilance and public education.
The collaboration highlighted by the Minister for MoGCSP among state institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, international partners and community actors is commendable.
Such cooperation has strengthened anti-trafficking interventions and improved victim identification and rescue efforts.
Nonetheless, much more remains to be done.
Parents and guardians must be empowered with accurate information so they are not deceived by traffickers masquerading as agents, scouts or sports managers.
Many victims fall prey because families are desperate to secure better opportunities for their children.
Sports associations also have a critical role to play.
The Ghana Football Association and athletics governing bodies must intensify public education on the lawful and structured pathways for pursuing professional sports careers locally and abroad.
Young athletes and their families need to understand recruitment processes, visa requirements, contracts and the warning signs of trafficking schemes.
Educational institutions, religious organisations and the media must equally contribute to awareness creation.
Communities must learn to question suspicious offers that promise instant sporting success overseas without proper documentation or verifiable processes.
Ultimately, the fight against sports trafficking cannot be left to the government alone.
It requires collective vigilance and a national commitment to protecting the dreams and futures of young people.
Sports should be a platform for talent development, discipline and opportunity — not a gateway to exploitation and human suffering.
Indeed, we all need to be vigilant and aware of the signs of human trafficking through sports.
