Human Trafficker Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment, Ordered to Pay 20,000 Cedi Compensation to Victim

ACCRA, GHANA – The Jasikan Circuit Court, in the Jasikan District of the Oti Region on September 20, 2022, sentenced a 45-year-old fisherman to a five-year imprisonment term for the offense of human trafficking and ordered him to pay a compensation of 20,000 cedis to the victim.

Spanning 13 months, the court proceedings started on August 12, 2021, where the accused, Issah Asilevi of Nkonya-Adjamasu, pleaded not guilty to the offense of human trafficking contrary to sections 2 (1) and (2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694). The accused, on September 16, 2021, engaged the services of a lawyer who represented him at the trial. After both the prosecution and defense filed written addresses, the judgement was delivered on September 20, 2022.

Coming at a time when the 14-year-old survivor, Khris*, is now enrolled in school for the first time, this judgement brings relief to him and his family with whom he has been reintegrated.

The Trafficking

Khris is the eldest of five siblings from Ningo Lotsubue in the Greater Accra Region. In 2016, his parents visited Nkonya-Adjamasu where the recruiter approached them intending to engage their son in fishing activities on the Lake. The recruiter promised an amount of GHC 500 annually to Khris's parents.

After he was given away for this sum, Khris lived and worked with his boat master on the lake for five years with no access to education. While on the lake, his work included paddling the canoe and setting baskets and bamboo traps in the lake. Most days, he worked on the lake from midnight to noon.

The Rescue

Supported by International Justice Mission Ghana, the Oti Regional Police Command and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the early hours of March 15, 2021, launched into Nkonya-Adjamasu to locate and rescue Khris and arrest his boat master, Issah.

The Restoration

After the rescue, Khris was placed in a private shelter for his care and rehabilitation.

The DSW, with IJM's support, ensured the right care and psychosocial support for Khris. There was also a collaborative effort to conduct a thorough home assessment of his family before reintegrating him with a close relative–a joyful reunion after five years of being trafficked.

Khris is currently enrolled in school.

As we applaud this judgement as a step in the right direction in the fight against injustice, IJM commends the Oti regional police and the DSW for their diligent efforts to protect Khris and many children like him. The Office of the Attorney-General, Ho is also commended for their diligent effort at prosecution.

*Pseudonym