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A 22-year-old Nigerian hairdresser, Nicky Isabella, also known as Bella, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Achimota Circuit Court for human trafficking.
The ruling, delivered by Her Honour Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, followed a full trial in which Isabella was found guilty of luring two Nigerian women to Ghana under false pretenses and forcing them into prostitution upon arrival.
According to court records, the victims, aged 22 and 23, were promised jobs at a supermarket in Adjiringanor, Accra. However, upon arriving in Ghana in May 2024, they were coerced into sex work, with Isabella seizing their earnings and forcing them to swear an oath involving pieces of their pubic hair. The oath was meant to instill fear and deter them from disobeying her.
The prosecution, led by ASP Isaac Babayi, described the act as premeditated and exploitative, calling for a stern sentence to deter similar offenses. Isabella, who had no legal representation, was visibly emotional as the sentence was read.
The court considered factors such as her age, status as a first-time offender, and time already spent in custody, but noted her lack of remorse and the gravity of the crime.
The Ghana Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has since launched a manhunt for Isabella’s alleged accomplice, Nelly, who remains at large. Meanwhile, the two victims have been rescued and are receiving psychosocial support.
Commenting on the case, DSP William Ayariga, Director of the Unit, reiterated Ghana’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking. He also revealed that nine convictions were secured last year under the Human Trafficking Act.
“Ghana is not a safe ground for human traffickers. We will continue to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law,” DSP Ayariga emphasized.
