The Achimota Circuit Court has sentenced a 22-year-old hairdresser, Nicky Isabella, popularly known as Bella, to five years in prison with hard labour for trafficking two young Nigerian women into prostitution under the pretense of offering them employment in Ghana.
Her Honour Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong handed down the sentence on Friday, April 3, 2025, following a full trial that culminated in Isabella’s conviction on two counts of human trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime.
The charges were brought under Section 2(1) and (2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), as amended by the Human Trafficking Act, 2009 (Act 784), and Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to court proceedings, Isabella conspired with an accomplice—identified only as Nelly and currently at large—to lure Grace Ebeagbor, alias Mimi (23), and Kikelomo John, alias Clara (22), from Nigeria to Ghana in May 2024.
The victims were promised jobs at a supermarket located at Ability Square in Adjiringanor, Accra.However, upon arrival, Isabella allegedly forced them into prostitution and seized the proceeds from their work.
In a harrowing detail revealed during the trial, the convict was said to have made the victims swear an oath on a Bible and cut pieces of their pubic hair, threatening to use them in rituals should they attempt to escape or disobey her orders.
Though Isabella pleaded not guilty, she was convicted after the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, presented compelling evidence, including the testimonies of three witnesses.
ASP Babayi urged the court to impose a harsh sentence to deter similar crimes, stressing the premeditated and exploitative nature of Isabella’s actions.
Before sentencing, the court ordered a pregnancy test, which returned negative.In its ruling, the court considered Isabella’s young age, her status as a first-time offender, and the months she had already spent in custody. However, the judge also noted her lack of remorse and the serious societal threat posed by human trafficking.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service says investigations are ongoing to apprehend Isabella’s fugitive accomplice, Nelly. The two victims have since been rescued and are currently receiving psychosocial support.
In an interview with Director Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, DSP William Ayariga send a strong and clear message stating that Ghana is not a safe haven for human traffickers.
“The Ghana Police Service, especially our Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, is fully committed to fighting this crime”,he said.
He further commend the judge for delivering justice in the recent case of Nicky Isabella, who was jailed for trafficking two young women from Nigeria under the guise of offering them decent jobs.
“Let this be a warning—those who lure vulnerable people into Ghana and force them into prostitution will face the full force of the law. They can run, but they can’t hide. The long arm of the law will catch up with them”.
He noted that, last year alone, our unit secured nine convictions. One of them got 20 years behind bars—the longest sentence ever handed down under the Human Trafficking Act. We are not slowing down. We will continue arresting, investigating, and prosecuting offenders. No form of human trafficking or migrant smuggling will be tolerated in Ghana. Justice will prevail.”
Isabella, who had no legal representation throughout the trial, broke down in tears as the sentence was pronounced.
Brief fact
According to the court document, the complainants in this case are Grace Ebeagbor a.k.a Mimi, age 23 and Kikelomo John a.k.a Clara, age 22 and the accused persons are Nicky Isabella a.k.a Bella (A 1 ), age 22, is a hairdresser and Nelly (A2) at large all Nigerians living in Ghana at Ability Square, Adjiringanor.
The facts stated that, on 18th June, 2024 the complainants reported at the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit CID Headquarters, Accra with a complaint that Nicky Isabella a.k.a Bella and Nelly deceived, lured, recruited and transported them from Nigeria to Ghana in the month of May,2024, under the pretext of securing them jobs in a supermarket but ended up forcing them into prostitution against their will and the proceeds collected from them.
It said that upon receipt of the complaint, the victims were interviewed and later gave their statements to Police.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Bella the convict with an intent to exploit the complainants made them swear on a Bible and later cut pieces of their hair which she threatened to use against them should they refuse to work as prostitutes or run away with her money whiles serving her.
“They were to work as prostitutes for a period of three to four months depending on the amount of money, they make daily before they could gain their freedom”.
The Court heard that, on 20th June, 2024, a team of personnel led by the Unit Station Officer together with the two complainarnts went to Ability Square Adjiringanor and arrested Bella.
Bella was interrogated, during which she informed Police that she knows both complainants and admitted having transported them from Nigeria to Ghana and engaging them into prostitution.
A search conducted in Bella’s s room at AUSBUILD apartment, revealed a blue book with an inscription ‘Executive Shorthand Notebook’ which contains recorded proceeds and human hair were retrieved by Police.
It said that during investigation, Bella admitted forcing the victims into prostitution for over a month and also collecting proceeds from the prostitution work.
After investigations, accused persons were charged with the offences as stated on the charge sheet and arranged before this honourable court.
