The Achimota Circuit Court has sentenced 29-year-old Nigerian national Chukwudi Nwachukwu to 10 years’ imprisonment for trafficking 10 girls from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
The victims, aged between 15 and 18 years, included Nwachukwu’s own sister. They were lured to Ghana with promises of decent jobs but were forced into prostitution upon arrival.
According to the prosecution, the victims were made to pay Nwachukwu GH₵300 daily after engaging in sex work in Odorkor, a suburb of Accra.
Presiding Judge Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong found Nwachukwu guilty on two counts of human trafficking and sentenced him to 10 years on each count, to run concurrently. In addition, the court ordered him to pay GH₵15,000 in compensation to each of the 10 victims.
While noting that Nwachukwu was a first-time offender who had pleaded for leniency, the court emphasised the need to deter human trafficking, citing its increasing prevalence.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, said the victims were rescued by a team led by Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, who apprehended Nwachukwu and alerted the authorities.
Investigations revealed that Nwachukwu financed the victims’ transport from Nigeria and exploited them through prostitution, assisted by accomplices who recruited and transported the girls from various villages in Nigeria.
Upon arrival, the victims were reportedly kept at Nwachukwu’s residence at Liberia Camp near Kasoa, where he allegedly took their pubic hair, forced them to swear before a shrine, threatened them with incurable skin diseases if they disobeyed, and gave them waist beads from the shrine. They were then transported to Odorkor traffic light and compelled to engage in prostitution, with Nwachukwu keeping records of their daily earnings in an exercise book.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Ghana Police Service, with support from Challenging Heights, subsequently rescued the victims.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayaregah, Director of the AHTU, said justice had been served and reiterated that Ghana would not tolerate human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. Ghana is not a safe haven for criminals — wherever you are, we will come after you,” he warned.
Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa of NIDO commended the Ghana Police Service for their strong collaboration, saying, “Justice has been served for the victims. Ghana is not fertile ground for criminal activities. We must all work together to eliminate human trafficking and restore dignity to our nations.”
Source: GNA
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