Joyce Samuel Chidema, a Nigerian living in Ghana, has appeared in court for allegedly recruiting three other Nigerian women for prostitution.
Chidema is said to have taken the woman to the temple to swear allegiance to him and on the condition that he release her, only if she pays between GH¢700,000.00 and GH¢1 million.
The accused faces 11 criminal charges including human trafficking, trafficking in prostitution, prohibition and procuration contrary to Section 107 of the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 (Act 20), failing to appear before an immigration officer upon entry into Ghana and entering Ghana via unapproved routes.
However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000.00. The trial court presided over by the Honorable Samuel Bright Acquah, has adjourned the case for two weeks.
The case is being prosecuted by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). According to EOCO, on October 17, 2022, the Human Trafficking Unit of the Economic and Organized Crime Office received intelligence that three Nigerian women had been trafficked to Ghana by other Nigerian women.
It was established during investigation that it was Chidema who sold the three women. Chidema has moved to Ghana since January 2021 and allegedly works as a prostitute as well as a clothes seller.
According to EOCO, they trafficked women into Ghana to exploit their vulnerability to unemployment. Chidema facilitated travel expenses to Ghana as well as housing.
He also takes them to the Temple, where they are made to swear allegiance to him before turning them into prostitutes.
The victim was forced by Chidema to make daily sales of GH¢80.00 to GH¢120.00 for him, as a result of prostitution.
It was told in court that Chidema told the three women that the only way to get their freedom from them, was to work and pay them between GH¢700,000.0 and GH¢1,000,000.00.
Based on these findings, Chidema was arrested and brought to court. The court, however, was informed that the victims had been released.
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