2 remanded over human trafficking

Two persons, who alleged­ly trafficked three victims from Nigeria to Ghana, and compelled them to engage in prostitution have appeared before the Accra Circuit Court.

Chidemma Nweke, also known as Mama, a 24-year-old commercial sex worker, and Mer­cy Francis, a 27-year-old trader, are alleged to have trafficked the victims from Nigeria to Ghana, under the pretext of securing them jobs.

The accused were arrested by the police at Asuogya Krobo in Wassa Akropong of the Western North Region.

Nweke and Mercy Francis  are being held on the charges of abetment of crime to wit human trafficking.

Nweke allegedly trafficked one person while Mercy Francis, known as Blessing or Gina, traf­ficked two persons.

They have denied the charges, and the court, presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, has remand­ed them into lawful custody to reappear on April 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, two of the accused’s accomplices, whose names were given as Favour and Blessing, are at large.

Prosecution told the court that the complainant was Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa, the Pres­

 dent of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Ghana.

The court heard that accused, Nweke and Francis, were Nige­rians, who were living at Wassa Akropong.

The prosecution said the complainant and Favour Chinecherem (victim) went to the Anti-Human Tracking Unit, Criminal investigations Depart­ment Headquarters, and reported that a Good Samaritan assisted Favour to escape from the hands of the human traffickers at Wassa Akropong enroute to Accra.

Prosecution said when the victim was interviewed, she stated that other victims had

 been held in bondage at Asuogva Krobo in Wassa Akropong, and mentioned the names of all the four accused.

The court heard that a team of personnel from the Unit went to Wassa Akropong and rescued six additional victims, and arrest­ed the two accused.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Chidemma re­cruited and transported Favour Chinecherem from Nigeria to Ghana under the pretext of se­curing her work at a boutique.

However, on reaching Ghana, she ‘harboured’ her at a broth­el in Asuogva Krobo and later forced the victim into prostitu­tion and collected the proceeds.

Furthermore, the court heard that Mercy Francis, managing the brothel and a drinking spot, called Royal City Pub, advised Chidemma Nweke to ‘sell’ Fa­vour Chinecherem.

According to the prosecution, Mercy Francis brought buyers; Favour who is the third accused, and one Blessing, the fourth ac­cused, and the eventually bought the victim at GH¢5,000.

Mercy, after the sale of the victim, collected her share of GH¢500.00.

Prosecution said investiga­tions are ongoing to get the other accomplices arrested. —GNA

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