The  Achimota Circuit Court has convicted two persons for traf­ficking two ladies from Nigeria to Ghana and compelling them to engage in prostitution.

Jessica Daniel, also known as Blessing, a 24-year-old hairdress­er, and Kelvin Johnson, known as Alaska, a 30-year-old Bitcoin trader, were convicted after they were found guilty at the end of the trial.

The two were held on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and two counts of human traf­ficking.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, however, deferred their sen­tence, pending the outcome of a pregnancy test for Jessica, the first accused person.

Reading her Judgment on Tuesday, the trial Judge said the Prosecution had been able to establish its case beyond reason­able doubt after calling three witnesses while the accused persons also called a witness.

The Prosecution, led by As­sistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, earlier told the court that the complainant was Chief Calistus Elozipuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Dias­pora Organisation (NIDO), based in Ghana.

ASP Babayi said on July 1, 2024, the complainant rescued the victims, Gloria Vincent, alias Grace, 20 years, and Gloria Igbetar, alias Diamond, aged 25, who were engaging in prostitu­tion.

When they were questioned, they told the complainant that they were deceived, lured and transported to Ghana from Nigeria by Jessica in January and February 2024, under the pretext of securing them jobs as domestic servants but ended up forcing them into prostitution.

According to the prosecution, the victims were linked to an agent in Nigeria by Johnson, who picked them at the lorry station in Accra and took them to an apartment where they stayed and worked as prostitutes for Jessica, who demanded they paid GH₵8,000.00 each to gain their freedom.

Prosecution told the court that Jessica and Johnson were subse­quently arrested by the police.

During investi­gation, they admit­ted having recruit­ed the victims from Nigeria to Ghana for pros­titution, the proceeds of which were collected by Johnson and handed to Jessica for safekeep­ing.

Investigations further re­vealed that Jessica hid behind Johnson to traffic the ladies to Ghana with the excuse that she was afraid they might harm her, if they found out that she was their mistress.

The victims have been able to pay GH₵8,000.00 each to the convicts, which they (convicts) both admitted having received.

—GNA