4 in police custody for trafficking teenage girls for sex work in Accra
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded in police custody three commercial sex workers, all said to be Nigerian nationals, for human trafficking.
The three — Joy Gimbia Cataima, Juliet Jeoma Chigere Nnaj and Happiness Augustine Williams have pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy and human trafficking.
A painter, Collins Nana Yaw Oppong Bempong, was also charged for abutment, but he denied the charge.
Lawyers for the accused persons had requested bail, but the court turned down their request after the prosecution pleaded that investigation was still ongoing.
The facts before the court indicate that Reverend Jonathan Kwasi Attuah, the Head Pastor of Baptist Church, Tesano, is the complainant.
The accused persons are Nigerian commercial sex workers living in Lapaz-Alhaji.
Collins, the fourth accused, lives in Lapaz-Alhaji with his fiancée, the second accused, Juliet Jeoma.
“On September 1, 2022, the first three accused conspired to lure young girls from Nigeria to the streets of Accra to enslave them into prostitution and take proceeds from their unlawful enterprise under the pretext of a secured sales girl job in A1 and A2 shop in Accra.
“The first accused paid the sum of N240,000.00 equivalent to GH¢5,732.00 to the third accused who misrepresented before a 19-year-old girl, Favour Ekubanse Asim, and Peace in River State in Nigeria to have had a sales job work by selling weave-on and cream in 1st and 2nd accused shop in Accra,” as contained in the facts.
The prosecution said the third accused subsequently trafficked and transported the said teenagers from Nigeria to Accra on September 2, 2022.
On arrival, the first accused took custody of Favour Ekubanse Asim while the second accused took custody of Peace at their residence in Lapaz-Alhaji for a fee of GH¢1,200.00, paid by the second accused Juliet to the first accused Joy.
Per the facts, the first and second accused then informed the said victims that they would not engage them in the sale of weave-on and cream as promised by the third accused. Rather, they will engage in prostitution.
According to the prosecution, the fourth accused subsequently threatened and initiated the two victims to swear an oath to pay the sum of GH¢2,000.00 each to the 1st and 2nd accused before they would be set free.
However, on September 3, at about 4:30 am, Favour Ekubanse Asim escaped from the first accused’s custody, and while walking barefooted on the streets of Lapaz, she met members of the Baptist Church on evangelism mission, and the said victim informed the evangelism members of her predicament.
The church has since taken her in custody and consequently petitioned the police for action.
Fast forward to September 23, at about 12:00pm, Joy, Juliet and Collins were arrested in Lapaz- Alhaji, while Happiness was arrested at Lapaz.
During interrogation, the accused persons admitted the offence.
The second accused, according to the prosecutor, claimed she had transported Peace back to Nigeria after she expressed her reservations about the job.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 18.
The prosecution was also directed to file all disclosures and witness statements they intend to rely on for the case before the next court date.