The Achimota Circuit Court has convicted two Nigerian nationals for trafficking young women from Nigeria to Ghana and coercing them into prostitution.
The convicted individuals, 24-year-old hairdresser Jessica Daniel, also known as Blessing, and 30-year-old Bitcoin trader Kelvin Johnson, alias Alaska, were found guilty of conspiracy and two counts of human trafficking.
Their sentencing has been deferred to April 30, 2025, pending the result of a pregnancy test for Jessica.
Delivering her judgment on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Her Honour Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecution presented three witnesses, while the defense called one.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, who led the prosecution, informed the court that the case was reported by Chief Calistus Elozipuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana.
According to ASP Babayi, the victims—20-year-old Gloria Vincent (also known as Grace) and 25-year-old Gloria Igbetar (also known as Diamond)—were rescued on July 1, 2024.
The victims revealed that Jessica had lured them from Nigeria earlier that year with false promises of domestic jobs in Ghana. However, upon arrival, they were forced into prostitution.
The investigation revealed that the victims were connected to an agent in Nigeria through Johnson.
Upon arriving in Accra, Johnson picked them up from the lorry station and took them to an apartment where they were made to work as prostitutes under Jessica’s control. They were told to pay GH¢8,000 each to secure their freedom.
Jessica and Johnson were later arrested and confessed to recruiting the victims and collecting the proceeds of the prostitution.
Johnson admitted receiving the money and handing it over to Jessica for safekeeping.
Further findings showed that Jessica used Johnson as an intermediary to conceal her involvement, fearing retaliation from the victims if they discovered she was the mastermind.
Both victims eventually paid the GH¢8,000 demanded, and the convicts acknowledged receiving the money.
