More than 120 Ghanaians are currently stranded in a remote village in Burkina Faso after falling victim to a fraudulent recruitment scheme allegedly linked to QNET, a controversial multi-level marketing company.
Speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio with host Kwame Tanko, several victims recounted harrowing experiences of how they were lured by trusted friends and family members with promises of lucrative job opportunities abroad.
One victim revealed that he was deceived by his own uncle into believing he had secured employment with IAMGOLD, a well-known mining company in South Africa. He said he was charged a staggering GHS 64,000 for the supposed opportunity.
Upon arrival, however, he found himself not in South Africa, but in Tangatougou, a village in Burkina Faso.
Another victim recounted how his close friend convinced him to pay GHS 50,000 for a mining job in South Africa. “Once in Burkina Faso, I was told that the travel to South Africa was only in ‘transit.’ Months later, many of us are still stranded here without employment.”
“They told us we would fly to South Africa after a short stay, but we’ve been stuck here for months. Then they said we weren’t going to South Africa anymore, and instead, we had to recruit others to earn a commission,” one victim explained.
“We have asked for our money countless times, but nothing has been done.”
The victims, now confined indoors, say they rely on the scheme’s leaders to purchase basic necessities. Their movement is restricted, and communication with the outside world is closely monitored. Calls to Ghana are only permitted under strict supervision.
According to one victim named Dora, any deviation from the scripted conversations results in phones being confiscated and contacts being blocked.
“I was invited by my close friend to work in South Africa. I’ve now been stuck here in Burkina Faso for three months and spent nearly GHS 10,000. The friend who brought me here has vanished,” Dora lamented.
She disclosed that the group staged a protest to demand their money back, which led to the arrest of two leaders of the operation. However, Dora added that their whereabouts remain unknown, and there has been no further communication about their fate.
The alleged leader of the fraudulent operation, according to the victims, is a Togolese national.
Desperate and running out of hope, the stranded individuals are now appealing to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to intervene and facilitate their return home.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our rescue. We have no money, no work, and no way out,” one of the victims said.
