The Denu Circuit Court has sentenced Amos Kojo Andrews, also known as “Adebayo”, a 40-year-old Ghanaian driver, to five years' imprisonment for his involvement in human trafficking-related offences.
The court imposed five years' imprisonment on each of the six counts against Andrews, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective prison term of five years.
Court records indicate that Andrews is to be transferred to the Ho Central Prison to serve his sentence.
The six counts comprised three counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and three counts of human trafficking, contrary to Sections 2(1) and 2(2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), as amended by Section 1(1) of the Human Trafficking (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act 784).
The case followed investigations into the recruitment and movement of Nigerian females through Ghana under deceptive promises of employment.
According to the case brief, one of the victims was transported from Nigeria into Ghana after arrangements were made for her journey and was later moved towards the Ghana-Côte d'Ivoire border.
During the journey, she was informed that the intended work involved prostitution. She resisted the arrangement and was subsequently returned to Elubo.
Investigators said Andrews later arranged temporary work for the victim while seeking to recover transportation expenses from her earnings.
The case came to the attention of the authorities after a passenger overheard a suspicious telephone conversation concerning arrangements to move the victim back to Aflao and alerted security officials.
Andrews was subsequently arrested when he went to receive the victim at the Aflao station.
During follow-up investigations, a joint team from the Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service, Aflao Sector Command, and the National Intelligence Bureau searched Andrews' residence and rescued another Nigerian female.
Investigators said the second victim had also been recruited on the promise of work abroad but was later informed that she would be sent for prostitution in Abidjan.
The court, in delivering its judgment, held that the prosecution had presented overwhelming evidence and successfully established the elements required to prove both human trafficking and conspiracy to commit human trafficking.
It further found that the defence had failed to displace the prosecution's evidence, which was marked by admissions and inconsistencies.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCOI) Mark Asamoah-Boakye urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of persons involved in bringing unsuspecting victims into the country.
He said the Ghana Immigration Service remained committed to securing the country's borders and protecting individuals who were lured with promises of employment but subsequently found themselves in situations that undermined their dignity.
DCOI Asamoah-Boakye said public cooperation was important in helping security agencies identify suspected trafficking activities and protect potential victims.
GNA
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