The Ghana Police Service and the Nigeria Police Force have reiterated their dedication to enhancing collaborative efforts in the fight against human trafficking and associated transnational crimes throughout West Africa.
This commitment follows a significant bilateral meeting that took place in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday, 7th November 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP/ Ms. Lydia Yaako Donkor, alongside the Deputy Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, Sadiq I. Abubakar, mni, PhD. Senior officials from law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, and diplomatic sectors of both nations were present at this meeting.
The discussions centered on the emerging trends in human trafficking, its increasing connection to cyber-related crimes, and the necessity for enhanced regional cooperation to tackle the rising number of victims in the sub-region.
During his address, DIG Abubakar praised the CID Director-General of Ghana for her proactive approach in suggesting the meeting during the INTERPOL Africa Regional Conference held in South Africa earlier this year. In response, COP Donkor expressed gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for their partnership and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to enhancing intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts.
Both delegations reached an agreement to form a Joint Task Force (JTF) to address cross-border trafficking issues, designate focal officers for real-time information exchange, and create standardized protocols for victim repatriation and referral. They also committed to initiating joint awareness campaigns aimed at youth and border communities, as well as organizing a high-level meeting of West African Police Chiefs to align regional strategies against trafficking.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a communiqué that reaffirmed the mutual commitment of Ghana and Nigeria to dismantle human trafficking networks, safeguard victims, and maintain bilateral dialogue within the frameworks of ECOWAS and INTERPOL.
