A 26-year-old primary school teacher Rita (not her real name) has suffered a devastating loss, leaving her feeling incomplete after a harrowing experience she never anticipated.
Rita’s story is one of profound loss. In 2019, she lost her mother to kidney failure, followed by her father’s death just a year later—a heartbreak that left her devastated. Seeking comfort and connection, she turned to a local church, unaware that her quest for solace would lead to a nightmarish betrayal.
In an exclusive interview with The Ghana Report, Rita shared her cautionary tale, emphasizing the dangers that young women face in their pursuit of love and wealth in a world where predatory organ harvesters lurk.
On July 10, 2021, after a church service, a charming man named King approached her with seemingly kind words.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and after a brief acquaintance, he offered her a ride home. What began as an innocent friendship quickly escalated into a romance.
“King showered me with attention and affection,” Rita recalled. “He proposed that I be his girlfriend about a month into our friendship, and I felt optimistic about our future together.”
King, who claimed to be from a wealthy family and involved in the import/export business, soon suggested a trip to Dubai. Captivated by the allure of romance and adventure, Rita agreed.
“I never suspected anything sinister; he seemed like a perfect gentleman,” she reflected.
The trip to Dubai was enchanting—filled with yacht rides, visits to iconic landmarks, and moments that felt like a fairy tale.
However, upon their return, the relationship took a darker turn. King suggested a medical check-up for sexually transmitted diseases, reinforcing his façade of care and concern.
Rita complied, trusting him implicitly. But their romantic getaway soon morphed into a nightmare when they travelled to Singapore, where everything changed. After indulging in wine for the first time, Rita found herself incapacitated and unconscious.
When she finally awoke, she was in a hospital bed, devastated to discover that one of her kidneys had been harvested.
“I cried until I could cry no more,” she said, her voice trembling as she recounted the moment her world collapsed.
After her release from the hospital, Rita was taken to the airport by immigration officials, leaving her with a haunting emptiness and unanswered questions. In her search for King, she learned the shocking truth: he had exploited her trust, using the church as a hunting ground for victims.
“I had no way to contact my family; King had insisted that I keep our relationship private. I thought he was genuine,” she lamented.
Now, three years later, the scars of her experience remain. Rita struggles with trust and feels that her faith in humanity has been shattered.
She warns others, especially young women, to remain vigilant against the dangers of organ harvesting, even in places that seem sacred.
“Organ harvesting is real in Ghana; even the church is not safe,” she cautioned. “I stopped going to church after what happened; I can only trust God now.”
The plight of victims like Rita highlights the grim reality of organ trafficking in the region. Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Justice Kudzo Normeshie of the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Person Unit noted the challenges in tracking such syndicates, as many victims do not survive to tell their stories.
In 2021, Chief Superintendent Mike Baah raised alarms about the growing trend of organ trafficking, which involves kidnapping and exploitation.
Security analyst George Dosoo Doyen emphasized the need for greater awareness and vigilance against these heinous acts, as they threaten the very fabric of society.
As Rita continues her journey of healing, she clings to hope that one day, she will find the answers she seeks.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers that lurk in the shadows and the importance of trust and vigilance in an uncertain world.
Story – The Ghana Report
