Two Nigerian nationals have been arrested at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region for their alleged involvement in human trafficking activities. The arrest followed a tip-off and a rescue operation carried out by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.
The complainant in the case is Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Ghana. The accused persons have been identified as Chidemma Nweke, also known as Mama (A1), aged 24, and Mercy Francis, also known as Gina or Blessing (A2), aged 27. Both reside in Wassa Akropong.
On April 7, 2025, Chief Eloziepuwa, together with a victim, Favour Chinecherem, reported to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit that a good Samaritan had helped the victim escape from her captors in Wassa Akropong to Accra.
Upon receiving the report, police interviewed the victim, who revealed that several others were still being held in bondage at Asuogya Krobo, Wassa Akropong. She also named four individuals allegedly involved in the trafficking activities.
Following the disclosure, a team led by the Station Officer conducted an operation at Wassa Akropong on April 10, 2025. The operation resulted in the rescue of six additional victims and the arrest of Chidemma Nweke and Mercy Francis.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Nweke recruited and transported victim Favour Chinecherem from Nigeria to Ghana under the pretense of offering her employment at a boutique.
However, upon arrival, the victim was harboured at a brothel in Asuogya Krobo and was later forced into prostitution, with the accused collecting all the proceeds.
Further investigations uncovered that Mery Francis, who managed the brothel and operated a drinking spot known as Royal City Pub, advised Nweke to sell the victim. Francis introduced buyers, identified as A3 and A4, who allegedly purchased Chinecherem for GH¢5,000. Francis received GH¢500 as her share of the proceeds, which she used to paint the pub.
Additionally, seeing the profitability of trafficking, Francis traveled to Nigeria and recruited two more victims, Loveth Bassey Victor and Esther Etimukpong, under the false promise of jobs as salesgirls in Ghana. Upon arrival, they too were forced into prostitution, and their earnings were meticulously recorded by Francis.
The police are continuing investigations to arrest other accomplices involved in the trafficking network while the arrested suspects will be arranged before court.
