When two Nigerian women were approached by a young woman and her male partner and offered jobs in domestic work, the women were receptive. They were told that the jobs would be high paying, though they needed to move to Ghana to accept them. The women agreed and traveled to Ghana where they were taken to an apartment upon arrival. The women then learned that the work intended for them wasn’t housework, but sex work. They were trafficked by the couple.
The Nigerian women were told by their female trafficker that they could gain their freedom if they paid her GH 8,000 ($533). But even after the women met this target and asked to be released, the traffickers refused and demanded the women continue their sex work.
But everything changed when an informant led the brave survivors to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, where they lodged a complaint of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Police then called Our Rescue to help set up an operation.
Our team moved swiftly to provide the necessary resources and logistics to launch an operation to arrest the accused man and woman. During the operation, the traffickers were arrested and later admitted to recruiting and transporting the survivors from Nigeria to Ghana for sex work. They also admitted to keeping all the money that the women had earned during their time as sex workers.
Police brought charges of human trafficking and conspiracy to commit human trafficking against the two suspects. Our Rescue provided transportation for the police officers and witnesses to the courtroom, which can often be one of the biggest barriers to prosecution of trafficking offenses. With the witnesses appearing on time, the case proceeded without interruption.
Ultimately, thanks to the Ghanian authorities and the help of Our Rescue, the court found the two traffickers guilty of the charges of human trafficking and conspiracy to commit human trafficking. They were each sentenced to nine years in prison.
Additionally, the court ordered that the traffickers return the GH 8000 ($533) to each of the women. Our Rescue also provided the women with survivor care.
With the continued support of Our Rescue’s generous donors, human traffickers are being arrested and sentenced. Your support is putting traffickers behind bars. Help continue to fuel our mission today!