Choicenewsonline Your Choice Is Here
A 25-year-old okada rider, Baba Issa Zakaria, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Odumase Circuit Court for trafficking Nigerian women into Ghana and forcing them into prostitution in Agomanya, Eastern Region.
Zakaria, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges including sextortion, operating a prostitution ring, and exploiting trafficked persons, was also slapped with a GHC 2,400 fine. In default, he will serve an additional one year behind bars. His co-accused, 26-year-old Ella Elizabeth, also admitted to prostitution and received a fine of GHC 2,400.
According to the prosecution, Zakaria recruited young Nigerian women under false promises and smuggled them into Ghana, where he compelled them to engage in sex work. Each woman was made to pay him GHC 150 weekly.
His arrest followed a violent incident where Zakaria and his accomplices attacked a client, Desmond Agmortey. They later extorted GHC 1,200 from Agmortey’s brother by threatening to circulate a video recording of the assault.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offense, describing human trafficking as a growing threat in the area. Investigations revealed that Zakaria had been running the illicit operation since 2024, using WhatsApp platforms to coordinate and control the victims.
By: Austin Ofori Addo
Rite FM News – Somanya, Eastern Region
Contact: 0548684913 / 0534615862
