A 22-year-old hairdresser, Nicky Isabella, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Achimota Circuit Court for trafficking two Nigerian women into Ghana under the false promise of offering them jobs.
Isabella, popularly known as Bella, lured the victims, aged 22 and 23, into Ghana by claiming she had secured employment for them at a supermarket in Adjiringanor, Accra. However, after their arrival in May 2024, she forced them into prostitution and confiscated all the money they earned.
The presiding judge, Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, delivered the ruling on April 4, 2025, following a full trial.
Prosecutors explained that Isabella worked with an accomplice identified as Nelly, who is currently on the run. Together, they orchestrated the trafficking of the two young women from Nigeria to Ghana.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, who led the prosecution, Isabella went further to control the victims through spiritual intimidation. She made them swear an oath on a Bible and cut their pubic hair, threatening to use it for rituals if they disobeyed her.
ASP Babayi described Isabella’s actions as deliberate and highly exploitative, urging the court to impose a harsh sentence to discourage others from engaging in similar crimes.
In determining the sentence, the court considered Isabella’s age, the fact that she was a first-time offender, and the time she had already spent in custody. However, her lack of remorse and the seriousness of the offence influenced the final decision.
Court records indicated that Isabella admitted to forcing the women into prostitution, taking their earnings, and threatening them with spiritual harm. A search of her home revealed a notebook recording the victims’ income and a bundle of human hair believed to be part of her control tactics.
Without legal representation, Isabella broke down in tears after the court handed down her sentence.
The victims have since been rescued and are receiving counselling and psychological support.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has intensified efforts to track down Isabella’s accomplice, Nelly.
Speaking on the matter, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayariga, head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, stressed that Ghana will not tolerate any form of human trafficking or exploitation.
He emphasized that the country is committed to prosecuting traffickers and protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse.
DSP Ayariga also revealed that the Unit secured nine convictions last year, including a landmark case that led to a 20-year prison sentence for a trafficker. He assured the public that efforts to arrest and prosecute human traffickers would continue without compromise.
“Human trafficking and migrant smuggling have no place in Ghana. The law will deal firmly with anyone involved in such crimes,” he stated.
