A 33-year-old Nigerian commercial sex worker, Nancy Joseph, has been sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour for human trafficking.
The Tamale Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Francis Ayamwuni Asobayire, delivered the verdict.
Nancy was found guilty of luring two Nigerian women, aged 22 and 18, to Ghana under false pretences of employment. Upon arrival, they were forced into prostitution, with Nancy controlling their earnings.
Background
The prosecution said the victims in this case are ages 22-year-old and 18-years-old all Nigerian women residing in Tamale.
According to the facts, Nancy is currently into commercial sex activities and trafficking unsuspecting young women from Nigeria to Ghana particularly Tamale under the guise of offering them employment in a boutique or related business and upon their arrival, they are compelled to engage in prostitution wherein Nancy enjoyed the proceeds from the prostitution of the victims.
It said Nancy manipulated the two victims with fetish indoctrinations and curses of death to keep them loyal for the period they were held captive.
It also said first victim was lured by Nancy that she had gotten a good job for the victim and upon such deceit she convinced the victim to come to Ghana to take up the job.
It explained that about two weeks ago on the victim’s arrival to Ghana by bus, Nancy told the first victim that the alleged work was for her to engage in prostitution and not any boutique work as earlier claimed.
That is, she would pay her (Nancy) an amount of one (1) million- naira equivalent to GHC10,000.00 before she can get her freedom.
The first victim was left with no option but to engage in prostitution and was sent to Bupei to begin the work and any money she receives is handed over to Nancy.
After a week, Nancy relocated the first victim to the Victory Cinema guest house in Tamale to continue with the prostitution Work.
It explained that on August 29, 2024, the first victim through the help of a good samaritan was brought to Anti Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Tamale where she lodged an official complaint to the Police.
On same day accused person was arrested at Taha a suburb of Tamale for human trafficking and sexual exploitation and brought to the Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Tamale for investigation.
It said that a search was conducted in the room of Nancy where an exercise book which contains records of payments made by the victims who work for Nancy was found and retrieved.
In the records it was detected that the first victim had made payments amounting to GHC1550.00 to Nancy.
The prosecution said, that while an investigation was ongoing the second victim also came to the station and made a case against Nancy.
She indicated that Nancy told her to come and do the same boutique job in Tamale and that when she got to Tamale, Nancy made her shave her private parts, and cut her fingernails and hair.
