Two convicted for human trafficking

The Achimota Circuit Court has convicted two persons for trafficking two ladies from Nigeria to Ghana and compelling them to engage in prostitution.

Jessica Daniel, also known as Blessing, a 24-year-old hairdresser, and Kelvin Johnson, known as Alaska, a 30-year-old Bitcoin trader, were convicted after they were found guilty at the end of the trial. The two were held on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and two counts of human trafficking.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, however, deferred their sentence to tomorrow, April 30, 2025, pending the outcome of a pregnancy test for Jessica, the first accused person. Reading her Judgement on Tuesday, the trial Judge said the Prosecution had been able to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt after calling three witnesses while the accused persons also called a witness.

The Prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, earlier told the court that the complainant was Chief Calistus Elozipuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), based in Ghana.

The accused persons, now convicts, are Jessica Daniel, 24, hairdresser, and Kelvin Johnson, 30, Bitcoin (BTC) trader, all being Nigerians.  ASP Babayi said on July 1, 2024, the complainant rescued the victims, Gloria Vincent, alias Grace, 20 years, and Gloria Igbetar, alias Diamond, aged 25, who were engaging in prostitution.

When they were questioned, they told the complainant that they were deceived, lured and transported to Ghana from Nigeria by Jessica in January and February 2024, under the pretext of securing them jobs as domestic servants but ended up forcing them into prostitution.

According to the prosecution, the victims were linked to an agent in Nigeria by Johnson, who picked them at the lorry station in Accra and took them to an apartment where they stayed and worked as prostitutes for Jessica, who demanded they paid GH 8,000.00 each to gain their freedom. prosecution told the court that Jessica and Johnson were subsequently arrested by the police.  During investigation, they admitted having recruited the victims from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution, the proceeds of which were collected by Johnson and handed to Jessica for safekeeping.

Investigations further revealed that Jessica hid behind Johnson to traffick the ladies to Ghana with the excuse that she was afraid they might harm her, if they found out that she was their mistress. The victims have been able to pay GH8,000.00 each to the convicts, which they (convicts) both admitted having received.

Source: GNA