Nigerian Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Ghana for Trafficking Girls Into Forced Prostitution

 

A 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Patience Gold, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Tarkwa Circuit Court in Ghana for trafficking four young women—one of whom is HIV-positive—from Nigeria to Ghana for forced prostitution.

The case was presided over by Judge Hathia Manu, who found Gold guilty on four separate charges: human trafficking, illegal abortion, assault, and prostitution. According to Graphic Online, the court handed down the following penalties:

• 20 years for human trafficking

• 5 years for illegal abortion

• 2 months each for assault and prostitution

However, the sentences will run concurrently, so she will serve a maximum of 20 years in total.

How She Lured Her Victims

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiabor, Gold tricked the victims into leaving Benue State, Nigeria, by promising them jobs as bar attendants at her drinking spot, Asanka-Moscato, in Ghana. The trafficking took place between March 22 and 27, 2025.

But when they arrived in Ghana, the story changed. Instead of bar work, the young women were forced into prostitution. Gold used fear and manipulation to control them. She reportedly shaved their pubic hair, removed their fingernails, and forced them to take an oath under duress, warning them they would go mad if they failed to repay the money she claimed she spent on them.

Abuse and Neglect

The court heard that Gold collected all the money made from the sex work and showed no concern for the victims’ health or safety.

On March 28, 2025, one of the victims—who was pregnant—was given a herbal concoction by Gold, which led to an illegal abortion. Another victim fell ill earlier on March 12, 2025, and after being taken to a hospital, was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Instead of helping her, Gold moved her to a new location so she could continue sex work, and kept collecting her earnings.

In another disturbing incident, Gold allegedly assaulted the HIV-positive victim on March 25, 2025, after collecting only GH¢300 from her. Dissatisfied with the amount, she beat the woman in the face and even seized her antiretroviral medication.

Justice Served

After this assault, the victims went to the Asankrangwa Police Station to report the abuse. Gold was arrested shortly after and charged with multiple offenses.

Not an Isolated Case

Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. In 2024, another Nigerian woman, 40-year-old Rose Ikem, was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour by the Asokwa Circuit Court in Kumasi, Ghana. She was found guilty of trafficking Nigerian girls to Ghana’s Ashanti Region for prostitution. She was also convicted of assault and ordered to pay GH¢24,000 in compensation to four victims.

This case highlights the ongoing dangers of human trafficking and the abuse many young women face under false pretenses. It's a call for stronger cross-border cooperation and better protection for vulnerable women and girls.