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 deceived with promises of decent jobs in Ghana but were instead forced into sex work upon arrival.
The court, presided over by 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, he was ordered to pay GHC15,000 compensation to each of the 10 victims.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, told the court that the victims were made to pay Nwachukwu GHC300 daily after engaging in prostitution at Odorkor, a suburb of Accra. Despite pleading for leniency as a first-time offender, the court imposed a deterrent sentence, citing the growing prevalence of human trafficking and the need to protect vulnerable young women.
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According to the prosecution, the case came to light when Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, led a team to arrest Nwachukwu and rescue the victims. On June 7, 2024, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the CID Headquarters received a report from the Nmai Dzorn Police Station confirming the arrest and rescue operation.
Investigations revealed that Nwachukwu financed the transportation of the girls from Nigeria to Ghana with the help of accomplices who recruited them from various villages. Upon arrival, he kept them at his residence at Liberia Camp near Kasoa, where he allegedly took their pubic hair and compelled them to swear before a shrine. The victims were threatened with incurable skin diseases if they disobeyed or fled.
Nwachukwu then gave each girl waist beads from the shrine and transported them to the Odorkor traffic light area, where they were forced to engage in prostitution. He recorded their daily earnings in an exercise book and exploited them for personal gain.
The AHTU, supported by Challenging Heights, eventually rescued the victims and took over the investigation. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayaregah, Director of the AHTU, described the ruling as a significant victory against 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 declared.
Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa of NIDO commended the Ghana Police Service for their strong collaboration, stressing that “justice has been served for the victims” and that Ghana remains a nation committed to stamping out human trafficking and restoring dignity to all affected individuals.
