The Odumase Circuit Court in the Eastern Region has sentenced Baba Issa Zakaria, a 25-year-old okada rider and resident of Agomanya, to ten years in prison for trafficking young Nigerian women into the area.
Ella Elizabeth, a 26-year-old Nigerian trader, also appeared before the court in connection with the case. She was charged with sex extortion, engaging in prostitution, and theft.
According to police investigations, Baba Issa Zakaria lured the victims from Nigeria to Lower Manya Krobo, where he housed them in various locations in Agomanya, a suburb of the municipality, to engage in commercial sex work.
Documents sighted by GhanaWeb revealed that Zakaria was convicted after pleading guilty during his first court appearance before Judge Kwesi Appiatse Abaidoo.
He faced seven charges, including abetment of crime (causing harm), causing harm, conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, sex extortion (sextortion), trading in prostitution, and using trafficked persons.
Zakaria’s operations came to light following an assault report lodged at the Odumase Police Station by one Divine Sakitey, the brother of Desmond Agmortey, a resident of Kpongunor.
Prosecutors ASP Augustine K. Asante Kusi, Odumase District Crime Officer, and Chief Inspector John Kwasi Brahene told the court that Zakaria acted as a hookup agent, trafficking young Nigerian women into Ghana, specifically Lower Manya Krobo, to engage in sex work.
They explained that each woman paid Zakaria a weekly fee of GH¢150 as an agent charge.
The prosecution added that Desmond Agmortey was a regular client of Ella Elizabeth, one of the six trafficked women.
On April 6, 2025, at around 01:00 hrs, Desmond called Ella for her services, which she agreed to. However, a misunderstanding ensued when she arrived.
Ella then called Zakaria, who mobilised a gang and rushed to the scene. The group assaulted Desmond, stripped him naked, inflicted machete wounds, and recorded the entire incident on video.
An eyewitness called the complainant, Divine Sakitey, who rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, Zakaria and Ella demanded GH¢1,200 from Desmond and his brother before releasing him and threatened to leak the nude video if they failed to pay.
Fearing for his brother’s life, Divine transferred the amount via mobile money. He later took Desmond to the hospital and reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of Zakaria and Ella.
Zakaria, during his first court appearance the following day, pleaded guilty to three of the charges: sex extortion, trading in prostitution, and use of trafficked persons.
The court sentenced him to 10 years for sextortion, five years for use of trafficked persons, and fined him GH¢2,400 for prostitution. He would serve an additional one year if he fails to pay the fine.
The sentences are to run concurrently, while other charges remain pending.
Ella Elizabeth also pleaded guilty to trading in prostitution and was fined GH¢2,400 or one year in prison in default. She admitted during interrogation that Zakaria trafficked her and the other women into the jurisdiction for sex work.
The trial judge imposed the sentence as a deterrent, citing the premeditated and exploitative nature of the offenders’ actions and the threat posed to society by human trafficking.
Meanwhile, aside from Ella, several trafficked Nigerian women are reportedly housed in different locations in Agomanya, engaging in illegal sex work with clients from adjoining districts.
Zakaria is believed to be the main orchestrator of the operation since 2024, managing several WhatsApp groups that included the women and prospective clients.
