The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has secured the conviction of a Nigerian national, Ada Peace, for human trafficking and immigration-related offences, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence.
In a statement issued on Thursday June 4, 2026, and signed by DSI Barbara Sam, the GIS disclosed that an intelligence-led operation by its Asankragwa Sector Command led to the rescue of two victims, aged 21 and 13, who had been subjected to exploitation.
Presenting the case before the Accra Circuit Court, Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) John Bernard Otoo revealed that the victims were recruited from Nigeria under the pretext of securing employment as shop attendants in Ghana.
However, investigations showed that upon arrival, they were allegedly forced into prostitution, with all proceeds collected by the convict.
The GIS Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons (AHSTIP) Section established that the victims were recruited through accomplices in Nigeria and transported into Ghana, where they were received by Ada Peace at a brothel in Adaase, near Asankragwa.
According to the Service, the victims were subjected to spiritual intimidation and coerced into commercial sex work to repay debts purportedly amounting to six million Nigerian Naira.
Prosecutors further informed the court that Ada Peace and an accomplice, Rejoice Opara, entered Ghana through unapproved border routes in July 2024 and remained in the country without valid immigration permits.
While Ada Peace was convicted on four charges, including human trafficking and illegal entry, Opara was fined and discharged by the court.
Reacting to the conviction, Comptroller-General of Immigration Samuel Basintale Amadu strongly condemned human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and illegal migration.
He warned that individuals involved in such crimes would be rigorously investigated and prosecuted, stressing that Ghana’s security agencies would not tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable persons or violations of the country’s immigration laws.
The GIS also urged the public to remain vigilant, noting that traffickers increasingly use social media platforms, including TikTok and Facebook, as well as fraudulent employment and travel opportunities, to lure unsuspecting victims.
The conviction forms part of the Service’s broader efforts to combat human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other transnational crimes across Ghana.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
