The Odumase Circuit Court within the Japanese Area has sentenced 25-year-old Baba Issa Zakaria to 10 years in jail for trafficking younger Nigerian ladies into Ghana for prostitution.
Zakaria, an Okada rider residing in Agomanya, lured a number of ladies from Nigeria to Decrease Manya Krobo and housed them at completely different places in Agomanya to power them into industrial intercourse work.
His actions got here to gentle after a report of assault was filed in opposition to him on the Odumase Police Station. Investigations led to stunning revelations of a human trafficking network.
Throughout his first courtroom look, Zakaria pleaded responsible to a number of prices, together with abetment of crime to trigger hurt, conspiracy, stealing, intercourse extortion (sextortion), buying and selling in prostitution, and utilizing trafficked individuals.
NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah warns that early competitors for the get together’s 2028 flagbearer place might change into very harmful and distract President Mahama. Particulars of his argument…
)
Former soccer star’s son Joni Hartson jailed for vicious assault on retired policewoman at UK hospital. Here is what occurred and courtroom ruling…
)
Choose Kwesi Appiatse Abaidoo, who presided over the case, handed down the sentence after listening to the info.
READ ALSO: Early fight for NDC flagbearer could be ‘very dangerous’ – Asiedu Nketiah warns
Prosecutors ASP Augustine Ok. Asante Kusi and Chief Inspector John Kwasi Brahene informed the courtroom that Zakaria acted as a hookup agent, receiving GHC 150 per week from every lady as an agent payment.
)
Among the many victims was 26-year-old Nigerian dealer Ella Elizabeth, who additionally appeared earlier than the courtroom. She confronted prices of intercourse extortion, buying and selling in prostitution, and stealing.
The courtroom heard that on sixth April 2025, Desmond Agmortey, a daily buyer of Ella, requested her companies. After a misunderstanding, Baba Zakaria arrived with a gang, assaulted Agmortey, inflicted machete wounds on him, and stripped him bare.
They filmed the assault and demanded a GHC 1,200 ransom from his brother, threatening to launch the video if not paid. Fearing for his brother’s life, Divine Sakitey paid the quantity earlier than Agmortey was launched and hospitalised.
)
Costs and sentencing
Following police investigations, Baba was sentenced to 10 years for sextortion, 5 years for utilizing trafficked individuals, and fined GHC 2,400 for buying and selling in prostitution. His sentences will run concurrently, that means he’ll serve 10 years in whole. Different prices are nonetheless pending.
Ella Elizabeth was fined GHC 2,400 for buying and selling in prostitution or serve one 12 months in jail if she fails to pay. She admitted throughout questioning that Baba trafficked her and different ladies into Agomanya for intercourse work.
The trial decide harassed that the sentences ought to function a powerful warning, given the deliberate and exploitative nature of their crimes. Authorities consider Baba has been working the trafficking operation since 2024, utilizing on-line teams to recruit ladies and shoppers.
MUST READ: Authorities investigate brother of footballer who fell from 11th floor to death
A number of trafficked Nigerian ladies are nonetheless believed to be working illegally in Agomanya and surrounding areas.
