A British woman has been raped while working on a Government-funded gap-year scheme in Africa.

The woman was allegedly assaulted last week in a remote part of rural Ghana. According to reports, she was part of a group of around 20 British young people working on a tourism project in a small village. She was drinking with friends but became separated from the group and was attacked.

It is thought only one man was involved in the alleged assault. No arrests have been made. After the incident, the girl was said to be in a very distressed state and received medical attention. It is understood that her mother has been informed.

The attack follows growing concerns about the vulnerability of youngsters on placements around the world.

One source involved in the scheme said that volunteers often had little supervision from British authorities.

‘This has been on the cards for some time,’ he said. ‘There have been complaints from people on the ground that there should be more security and supervision to ensure their safety.’

The project in Ghana is helping to develop tourism by improving the environment.

The volunteers, aged between 18 and 25, have had their trips, including flights and insurance, sponsored by the Government, although the projects are run by charities in the UK and Ghana.

The Foreign Office said: ‘We can confirm an incident occurred in Ghana and we are providing assistance to the British national involved.’