The Ghana Police Service and the Nigeria Police Force have reaffirmed their commitment to intensify joint efforts in combating human trafficking and other transnational crimes across West Africa.
This follows a high-level bilateral meeting held 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 Sadiq I. Abubakar, Deputy Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force.
Senior officials from law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, and diplomatic agencies of both countries attended the engagement.
Ghana makes strides against human trafficking
According to an official post on X on November 10, 2025, discussions centred on emerging forms of human trafficking and their growing connection with cyber-related crimes.
The two countries also emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation to protect victims within the sub-region.
DIG Abubakar commended Ghana’s CID leadership for initiating the bilateral meeting:
“This engagement demonstrates Ghana’s proactive commitment to building regional partnerships to tackle transnational crime. Human trafficking networks are becoming more sophisticated, and the only effective response is coordinated action.”
COP Donkor expressed appreciation to the Nigerian authorities for hosting the meeting and reiterated Ghana’s dedication to deepening collaboration:
“We are determined to intensify intelligence sharing and joint enforcement operations. No country can win this fight alone. Trafficking is a regional challenge, and our response must be regional.”
Both delegations agreed to establish a Joint Task Force to handle cross-border trafficking cases, appoint focal officers for real-time information exchange, and develop standard protocols for victim repatriation and referral.
They also resolved to roll out joint awareness campaigns in border communities and among the youth.
“We are not only going after traffickers; we are also protecting victims,” the statement said.
The parties further agreed to push for a high-level meeting of West African Police Chiefs to harmonise regional strategies under ECOWAS and INTERPOL frameworks.
ECOWAS meeting on trafficking in persons opens in Accra
The meeting concluded with the signing of a communiqué reaffirming the shared commitment of Ghana and Nigeria to dismantle human trafficking networks, protect victims, and sustain bilateral cooperation.
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COP LYDIA YAAKO DONKOR DRIVES GHANA-NIGERIA PARTNERSHIP TO TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
In March 2025, Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor was appointed Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Her appointment came at a time… pic.twitter.com/0jVVCevpHo
— Lydia Yaako Donkor (@lydiadonkor13) November 10, 2025
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