A Nigerian woman named Favour Ugwu has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Ghana for human trafficking.
The 28-year-old was convicted by a Ghanaian court on Thursday.
In a video shared by Ghone TV on X, Favour was seen being escorted away from the courthouse by security officials shortly after the judgment was announced.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, reacted to the ruling, calling it a “win in the fight against human trafficking.”
Favour Ugwu, also known as Loveth Nnenna Igwe, was found guilty of recruiting a 19-year-old woman from Chad and bringing her to Ghana under false pretenses. The victim was promised a job in a restaurant but was instead forced into prostitution.
Fortunately, the victim was rescued by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service and Our Rescue Ghana after a tip-off about her situation.
The investigation began when Ibrahim Yahaya, an electrical engineer, reported the victim’s plight to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. He met the victim in Madina and learned she had been trafficked.
On November 21, 2023, Ibrahim, along with a team from the Unit, found Ugwu in Olonka, an area known for suspected sex workers. During questioning, Ugwu admitted that she had recruited the victim from Abuja, Nigeria, with help from another Nigerian named King. She confessed to paying for the victim’s transport to Ghana and providing her with clothing, condoms, and lubricant for sexual acts.
Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi highlighted the seriousness of human trafficking, describing it as a global issue. He requested a strong sentence to deter Ugwu and others from engaging in similar activities.
