More than 30 young women are feared to be trapped in remote camps in Ghana’s Savannah Region, where they are allegedly forced into prostitution after being deceived with promises of legitimate employment, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has disclosed.
The development follows the arrest of a suspected human trafficking ringleader, identified as Prince James, also known as Prince Odugbu, during a late-night security operation led by the Savannah Regional Command of the GIS.
Savannah Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration Lawrence Agyei Agyapong, said the suspect allegedly operated a cross-border trafficking network involving Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
Investigators believe vulnerable women were recruited in Nigeria, transported through neighbouring countries and brought into Ghana through Aflao. They were reportedly moved through Accra to isolated locations in the Savannah Region, including the mining community of Kloth in the Bole District.
According to authorities, the victims were allegedly deceived with fake job offers and forced to repay fabricated transportation debts through prostitution. The alleged exploitation has raised concerns about sexual violence, psychological trauma and the safety of women who may still be held in the camps.
One survivor, a trained nurse who believed she had secured a healthcare job in Ghana, reportedly discovered upon arrival that she had been deceived into prostitution. She later escaped and assisted authorities in tracking down the suspected ringleader.
The suspect is currently in custody at the GIS regional headquarters and is assisting with investigations as authorities work to locate the remaining victims and identify other suspected members of the alleged trafficking network.
The Ghana Immigration Service has urged jobseekers to verify employment opportunities, especially offers involving international travel and unexplained recruitment or transportation fees. Members of the public have also been encouraged to report suspected human trafficking activities.
With more than 30 women potentially still at risk, authorities face urgent calls to rescue the suspected victims, dismantle the alleged trafficking network and ensure that anyone found guilty faces the penalties prescribed by law.
Source: newsthemegh.com