Nigerian hairdresser jailed 5 years in Ghana for trafficking women into prostitution:
Nicky Isabella, a 22-year-old Nigerian hairdresser, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Achimota Circuit Court in Ghana for trafficking two young Nigerian women and forcing them into prostitution. The court, presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, handed down the sentence on Friday, April 2025, following a full trial that resulted in Isabella’s conviction on two counts of human trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime.
Isabella, also known as Bella, lured the victims, aged 22 and 23, to Ghana with the false promise of employment at a supermarket in Adjiringanor, Accra. However, upon their arrival in Ghana in May 2024, Isabella seized their earnings and forced them into prostitution. She further intimidated them by forcing them to swear an oath on a Bible and cutting pieces of their pubic hair, threatening to use these in rituals if they disobeyed her instructions.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, leading the prosecution, urged the court to impose a harsh sentence, citing the premeditated and exploitative nature of Isabella’s actions as a serious threat to society. He also revealed that Isabella conspired with an accomplice named Nelly, who remains at large, to traffic the women from Nigeria to Ghana.
In her ruling, the trial judge considered Isabella’s young age and her status as a first-time offender, as well as the period she had already spent in custody. However, she also emphasized Isabella’s lack of remorse and the severity of the offense when determining the sentence. Isabella, who had no legal representation throughout the trial, reportedly broke down in tears as the sentence was pronounced.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation to apprehend Nelly, the fugitive accomplice. The two victims have been rescued and are currently receiving psychosocial support to aid their recovery.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayariga, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, reiterated the country’s zero tolerance for human trafficking, stating, “Ghana is not a haven for human traffickers. Those who lure vulnerable people into Ghana and force them into prostitution will face the full force of the law.”
DSP Ayariga also highlighted the Unit’s achievements, revealing that they secured nine convictions last year, including a 20-year sentence under the Human Trafficking Act. He reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to continue cracking down on human trafficking and migrant smuggling, declaring, “We are not slowing down. We will continue arresting, investigating, and prosecuting offenders. No form of human trafficking or migrant smuggling will be tolerated in Ghana. Justice will prevail.”
Court documents revealed that Isabella admitted to forcing the victims into prostitution and collecting all proceeds from their work. A search of her room uncovered a notebook used to record the proceeds, along with strands of human hair, which she allegedly used to intimidate the victims.
