By Nadia Ntiamoah
In a landmark ruling underscoring the growing fight against human trafficking in Ghana, a 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Patience Gideon Gold, has been sentenced to 29 years in prison after being found guilty of a string of serious crimes involving human trafficking, forced prostitution, illegal abortion, and physical assault.
The trial, held at the Asankrangwa District Court, revealed a deeply disturbing web of exploitation orchestrated by Gold, who lured her victims from Nigeria to Ghana under the guise of offering them decent employment opportunities.
The victims—Samuel Ahiabor, Jennifer Terewuba, Abigail Timothy, Happiness Kowuka, and Rejoice Isaac—were all trafficked from Benue State between March 22 and 27, 2025.
Upon arrival in Ghana, however, the young women found themselves subjected to brutal conditions. According to court testimony, they were coerced into prostitution.
Gold reportedly used violence and spiritual threats to break their resistance, forcibly shaving their pubic hair and removing their fingernails, before making them take oaths promising madness or death should they disobey her.
One of the victims, Abigail Timothy, testified that she was pregnant at the time she was trafficked.
Just days after her arrival, on March 28, Gold administered a herbal concoction to terminate the pregnancy—a procedure carried out illegally and without medical supervision.
In another account that drew widespread condemnation, 20-year-old victim Happiness Kowuka became ill and was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS on March 12.
Instead of seeking medical help, Gold allegedly moved her to another location where she continued engaging in commercial sex work—without disclosing her health status—while the Madam collected all proceeds.
Kowuka’s attempt to confront Gold over withheld payments led to a violent assault, leaving her with facial injuries.
The abuse became the final straw for the group, who banded together and reported their ordeal to the Asankrangwa Police.
Gold was arrested shortly after and confessed to the crimes in her caution statement.
The court handed down concurrent sentences as follows:
Twenty years for human trafficking, under Section 1 (1,2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) as amended by the Human Trafficking (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act 784).
Five years for illegal abortion, contrary to Section 58 of the Criminal Offences Act.
Two years for assault, under Section 84 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Two years for prostitution-related offences, under Section 274(1) of the same Act, as modified by NLCD 398, Paragraph 16.
The judge also ordered that the victims be placed under the care of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, which is expected to coordinate their safe repatriation to Nigeria.
