A 28-year-old commercial sex worker, Favour Ugwe, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking. The court found her guilty of recruiting and forcing a 19-year-old woman from Chad into prostitution in Ghana. Ugwe, the convict, was also ordered to pay GH¢5,000 to compensate the victim, and her sentence includes hard labor.
The convict had admitted to recruiting the victim from Abuja, Nigeria, with the assistance of another Nigerian man, and paying for her transportation to Ghana. However, she pleaded not guilty to the charge of human trafficking while the case went through a full trial, with the prosecution calling two witnesses.
Ugwe then provided the victim with dresses, condoms, and lubricants for sexual intercourse with men for a fee. Her Honour Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, who presided over the case, said she considered Ugwe’s lack of remorse during the trial and the prevalence of human trafficking in the country before passing her sentence. The court also said it took into consideration the fact that the convict is a first-time offender, her age, and the number of months spent in custody.
Mitigation
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, urged the court to impose a hefty punishment to deter others. He also asked the court to consider the prevalent nature of human trafficking in the country, which has become a global problem. ASP Babayi further urged the court to impose an enhanced punishment, which would serve as a deterrent to both the convict and others who may have intentions of committing human trafficking.
The prosecutor also drew the court’s attention to the premeditation with which she committed the offence. Moments after the eight-year custodial sentence was imposed, the convict, who is also known as Loveth Nnenna Igwe and had no legal representation, broke down in tears. EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that the convict, who had no legal representation, broke down in tears moments after the sentencing was passed.
Brief Facts
Per the brief facts of the case, the complainant is Ibrahim Yahaya, an electrical engineer and resident at Madina UN, while Favour Ugwe, a.k.a. Loveth Nnenna Igwe, the accused person, is a Nigerian residing at Olonka behind Madina Redco Flat.
According to the prosecution, the victim is a 19-year-old from Chad. The facts stated that, on November 10, 2023, the complainant and the victim went to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit at CID Headquarters, and the former reported that, on November 5, 2023, he met the victim, who was stranded around Madina in Accra.
It said that, during an interview, the victim indicated to him that she had been recruited and transported from Nigeria to Ghana by one Favour, a Nigerian, to work in a restaurant but was instead forced into prostitution. It explained that, on November 21, 2023, the victim was accompanied by a team of personnel from the Unit, headed by the Unit Station Officer, to Madina in search of the accused.
Condoms, Gel & Lubricants
The prosecution told the court that, “The victim happened to locate Olonka and Red Light, a slum housing a large group of ladies suspected to be sex workers behind the Madina Redco Flats, and the victim pointed at the accused person as the trafficker. She was subsequently arrested by police at her hideout.”
During the investigation, “the accused admitted to having recruited the victim from Abuja, Nigeria, with assistance from a man called King, also a Nigerian, and paid for the victim’s transportation from Nigeria to Ghana.” “Further investigation revealed that the accused person received the victim at Circle, Accra, and later took her to Olonka, her abode.
The accused person then provided the victim with dresses, condoms, and gel for lubrication during the victim’s sexual intercourse with men for a fee, which the accused person admitted receiving and recording,” the brief facts stated. It said, that after the investigation, the accused person was charged with the offence as stated on the charge sheet.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
