Nigerian woman sentenced to seven years for human trafficking in Tamale

A 24-year-old Nigerian national, Mariam Yussif, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour for human trafficking by the Gender-Based Violence Court in Tamale.

The Northern Regional Police Command said Yussif and her 22-year-old sister, Precious Clement, were arrested in Yendi on August 17, 2026, over allegations that they recruited and transported victims from Nigeria to Ghana for sexual exploitation.

Yussif was charged with one count of human trafficking under Section 2(1) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), and appeared before the court on August 19.

She pleaded not guilty and was subsequently remanded in prison custody.

After several adjournments, Yussif returned to court on October 22, 2026, where she was convicted following the conclusion of the trial.

She has since been transferred to the Tamale Central Prison to serve her sentence.

The Police said no case was established against Clement, who was subsequently released.

Meanwhile, the two victims involved in the case have been repatriated to Nigeria and reunited with their respective families.

The Northern Regional Police Command said the conviction demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led operations, thorough investigations and effective prosecution in efforts to combat human trafficking.

It reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking and urged the public to report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.