Human trafficking: Two Nigerian women arrested in Ghana

Two Nigerian women, Ify Mba and Amanda Chioma who were arrested in Ghana appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly trafficking six women from Nigeria to Ghana for commercial sex work.

The women on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the charge and were both granted bail in the sum of GHc70,000.00 with three sureties each, one of which is to be justified by the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo told the court that on March 24, the police had information that a group of Nigerian girls were being escorted by some women into a hotel within Baatsonaa for solicitation.

The prosecution said based on intelligence, the police embarked on an operation and arrested the accused persons, and also six other young ladies ages between 21 and 26.

She said the accused persons, together with another, now at large, are Nigerian nationals who came to Ghana and are lodging at Kormens Hotel, Baatsonaa.

ASP Boafo told the court that the ladies revealed to the police that they were brought from Nigeria by the accused persons on transit to Germany and Dubai to be employed as house helps. But upon their arrival, they were forced by the accused persons to go into soliciting.

She said investigations established that the victims were locked up in a hotel room after which they were made to swear an oath and forced to engage in prostitution in nightclubs and hotels in Baatsona. She added that the victims were made to pay N555K to the accused persons.

She also said two other victims were brought into the country on March 23, and made to go through the same ritual.

She further revealed in court that the victims were denied food and water for some days when they initially refused to engage in the illegal trade, forcing them to rescind their decisions.

The prosecution told the court that in their caution statements, the two accused persons denied the offence.

Source: GNA