The Tema Regional Police Command has secured the conviction and sentencing of two men to 20 years’ imprisonment each for human trafficking and causing harm after they lured Nigerian nationals to Ghana with false promises of employment and forced them into cybercrime.
The convicts, Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, were arrested on August 20, 2023, at Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema, following a distress call to the Afienya District Police Command that several people were being held against their will.
A police patrol team, with support from residents, rescued 11 Nigerians from the house and arrested the two suspects.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of 16 laptops and an iPad allegedly used in the operation.
Police investigations revealed that the victims had been recruited from Nigeria under the pretext of being offered jobs in Ghana.
However, upon arrival, they were allegedly confined in the house, had their mobile phones and identification cards confiscated, and were forced to engage in internet fraud.
Investigators also found that the victims were fed only once a day and subjected to severe physical abuse whenever they failed to comply with instructions.
They were reportedly beaten with laptop charging cables and machetes, leaving some with cutlass wounds, while many were found to be malnourished and in poor health.
The suspects were arraigned before Circuit Court B in Tema on charges of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, human trafficking, and causing harm.
After the trial, the court, presided over by Her Honour Naomi Adusei Amamiampong Kucour, found both accused persons guilty of human trafficking and causing harm, contrary to section 23 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); human trafficking, contrary to Section 2(2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694); and causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Each was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for human trafficking and 10 years’ imprisonment for causing harm, with the sentences to run concurrently.
