EOCO Rescues 26 Victims in QNET-Linked Human Trafficking Operation

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has rescued twenty-six (26) victims and arrested nine (9) suspects in a major anti-human trafficking operation linked to the QNET Company.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Quest,” was carried out on Friday, October 17, 2025, around 10:30 a.m. by EOCO’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. It followed intelligence suggesting that both Ghanaians and foreign nationals had been trafficked under the pretense of being offered employment opportunities with QNET, a company known for trading in wellness and lifestyle products.

According to EOCO, the suspects include two Ivorians and seven Ghanaians, while the rescued victims comprise ten Ivorians and sixteen Ghanaians. All nine suspects are currently in EOCO’s custody to assist with ongoing investigations.

The Office cautioned the public to be wary of individuals and groups who claim to be agents of QNET and promise lucrative job offers either in Ghana or abroad. EOCO emphasized that such schemes are often used to exploit unsuspecting people.

EOCO further recalled that in July 2025, it signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with QNET to intensify efforts to clamp down on criminal networks using the company’s name for trafficking and fraudulent activities.

The statement, signed by Faustina Lartey, Head of Public Affairs at EOCO, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating human trafficking and urged the public to report any suspicious recruitment offers.

Five days after news broke about charges filed against the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, his legal team has told the Criminal Division of the High Court that he has not yet been formally served with the charge sheet — explaining his absence from court today.

On Monday, October 13, 2025, the Attorney-General filed charges against Mr. Antwi, accusing him of authorising payments totaling GH¢500,861,744.02 to more than 60,000 non-existent (ghost) national service personnel.

Mr. Antwi, who resides in Kumasi, was expected to appear before the court to respond to 14 counts of causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering.

When the case was called around noon on Thursday, October 16, his lawyer, Paa Kwesi Kuboadzi, appeared in court wearing traditional African attire instead of the usual black suit, robe, and wig.

He told Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie that he was informed of the court session barely an hour before it started.

“Unfortunately, we were not given any prior notice,” Mr. Kuboadzi said. “I was called about an hour ago to appear before the court, which is why I am not robed.”

He therefore requested that the prosecution give the defense adequate notice for future appearances.

Prosecution’s Response

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, explained that while the charge sheet had been filed, the prosecution was unaware that the case had been scheduled for hearing today.

“We did not have a hearing date. My instructions are that we will file a hearing notice for the next appearance,” she told the court.

The DPP also requested that Mr. Antwi, who currently reports to investigators in Kumasi, be directed to report to investigators in Accra moving forward.

She assured the court that the prosecution would formally serve the accused with the charge sheet and accompanying facts, and notify him when to appear for the first official hearing.

Justice Quarshie, however, stated that the court could not fix a date until the prosecution properly arraigns the accused.

“The court will await the Republic to arraign the accused,” she ruled.

Background to the Case

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has charged Osei Assibey Antwi and the former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Gifty Oware Mensah, over alleged payments to 69,934 ghost national service personnel.

Prosecutors allege that between August 2021 and February 2025, Mr. Antwi authorised payments amounting to over GH¢500 million in allowances to fictitious names.

Mrs. Oware Mensah, on her part, is accused of generating 9,934 fake service names through the NSA’s Central Management System (CMS). She allegedly took control of Blocks of Life Consult Limited, making her mother’s driver a director, and used the company to secure a facility from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

According to the prosecution, she claimed the company had supplied goods on hire-purchase to the fake service personnel and used their supposed allowances as collateral — a scheme that allegedly enabled her to fraudulently obtain GH¢38,458,248.87 over 11 months.

She has been charged with five counts including willfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and money laundering.

Both accused persons are expected to appear before the High Court in Accra later this week for their pleas to be taken.

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges brought against him and four others over alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve at Samreboi in the Western Region.

His plea was entered on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Accra High Court, just hours after he appeared in a separate case earlier in the day, where he was placed on a stop list and granted GH₵15 million bail for six other mining-related offences.

Chairman Wontumi appeared in court alongside officials of Akonta Mining Company Limited and other associates accused of engaging in unauthorised mining operations and environmental destruction within a protected forest reserve. The prosecution alleges that their activities resulted in the destruction of approximately 13 hectares of land in the Tano Nimire Forest.

After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court granted Wontumi bail in the sum of GH₵10 million with two sureties, one of whom must justify with landed property.

The case, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General, involves offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, the Forest Protection Act, and the Criminal Offences Act. The accused persons are alleged to have conducted illegal mining operations, felled trees, and erected structures within the forest reserve without the necessary permits.

Details of the Charges:

1. Undertaking Mining Without Licence:

Akonta Mining Company Limited allegedly operated a mining concession at Samreboi in 2022 without a valid licence from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, contrary to Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.

2. Undertaking Mining Without Licence:

Chairman Wontumi and one Kwame Antwi (currently at large) are accused of conducting mining operations as owners and directors of Akonta Mining Company Limited within the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without authorisation.

3. Undertaking Mining Without Licence:

The company’s General Manager, Edward Akuoku, and Operations Manager, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (alias Sly, at large), are also accused of unlawfully operating within the reserve.

4. Felling Trees Without Authority:

Akonta Mining Company Limited allegedly felled over 300 merchantable trees and several saplings without written authorisation, contrary to the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243).

5. Abetment of Unauthorised Felling of Trees:

Chairman Wontumi and three others allegedly aided the unlawful felling of trees in violation of the Forest Protection Act and Section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

6. Erecting Buildings Without Permission:

The company is further accused of constructing buildings and other structures in the forest reserve without approval, contrary to the Forest Protection Act.

7. Abetment of Unauthorised Construction:

Wontumi and his co-accused allegedly facilitated the unauthorised erection of structures within the forest reserve without permission from the forestry authorities.

Chairman Wontumi, who had earlier been granted GH₵1 million bail in a related case, has met all bail conditions and was released pending trial.