The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Lydia Yaako Donkor, has cautioned against the exploitation of young athletes through human trafficking under the guise of sporting opportunities abroad.
She said criminal networks were taking advantage of the ambitions of young people seeking professional football contracts, international trials and sports scholarships to deceive and traffic vulnerable individuals.
In a Facebook post, Ms Donkor said the growing threat required vigilance from parents, coaches, football academies, sports administrators, and young athletes to prevent unsuspecting talents from falling victim to trafficking networks.
She made the remarks after delivering 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.
The programme focused on strengthening the capacity of officers to identify, investigate and prevent human trafficking.
Ms Donkor urged stakeholders to carefully verify promises of international contracts, scholarships and professional sporting opportunities before allowing young athletes to pursue them.
She stressed that no young person should lose their freedom, dignity or future in the pursuit of 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,” she stated.
She further emphasised that sports should serve as a pathway to opportunity, discipline and national pride rather than expose young talents to exploitation.
According to her, protecting aspiring athletes from trafficking requires sustained collaboration among law enforcement agencies, sporting institutions, families and international partners.
Ms Donkor called on all stakeholders to ensure that young people can pursue their sporting ambitions safely, without falling prey to individuals and networks that exploit their hopes for a better future.
“Let us protect their dreams, safeguard their future, and ensure that no child becomes a victim of trafficking in the name of sports,” she added.
Source: Adomonline
