Ghana, Nigeria police strengthen collaboration to combat human trafficking
Ghana and Nigeria’s police forces have pledged to strengthen their joint efforts against human trafficking and other transnational crimes throughout West Africa. This commitment follows a high-level bilateral discussion that took place in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The meeting was co-chaired by COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, and Deputy Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, Sadiq I. Abubakar, mni, PhD. It brought together senior representatives from law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, and diplomatic institutions from both countries.
Key discussions focused on the growing link between human trafficking and cybercrime, the rising number of victims across the sub-region, and the need for stronger regional coordination.
DIG Abubakar commended COP Donkor for initiating the bilateral engagement during the INTERPOL Africa Regional Conference earlier this year in South Africa. In response, COP Donkor praised Nigeria’s cooperation and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement operations.
Both sides agreed to establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) to manage cross-border trafficking cases, designate focal officers for real-time information exchange, and develop standard operating procedures for victim repatriation and support. They also resolved to roll out joint public awareness campaigns targeting youth and border communities, and to convene a meeting of West African Police Chiefs to align regional strategies against trafficking.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a joint communiqué. This document formally reaffirms Ghana and Nigeria’s shared commitment to dismantle human trafficking networks, protect victims, and boost security cooperation within the frameworks of ECOWAS and INTERPOL.
