Patience Gideon was found guilty on various offences
The Tarkwa Circuit Court, presided over by Hathia Ama Manu, has sentenced 32-year-old Nigerian commercial sex worker, Patience Gideon, alias Gold, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for multiple offences, including human trafficking, illegal abortion, assault, and prostitution.
The sentences are to run concurrently, resulting in a total jail term of 20 years.
The prosecution, led by ASP Samuel Ahiabor and Detective Chief Superintendent Adams Mumuni, detailed the harrowing ordeal of four Nigerian victims: Jennifer Terewuba (20), Abigail Timothy (21), Happiness Kowuka (27), and Rejoice Isaac (30).
The victims, all hairdressing apprentices, according to the prosecution, were trafficked from Benue State, Nigeria, to Moseaso near Asankrangwa in the Western Region, between March 22 and 27, 2025, under false pretences.
According to court documents available to GhanaWeb, the prosecution said Patience Gideon lured the victims with promises of employment as bar attendants at her drinking spot at Moseaso. Upon arrival, however, she coerced them into prostitution.
When the victims resisted, Gideon forcibly shaved their pubic hair, removed their fingernails, and made them swear an oath, threatening madness if they refused to comply.
Out of fear, the documents added, the victims engaged in prostitution, with Gideon collecting the proceeds.
On March 28, 2025, Gideon administered a herbal concoction to Abigail Timothy, who had informed her of being pregnant, resulting in an illegal abortion.
In a separate incident on April 12, 2025, Happiness Kowuka, one of the girls, fell ill and was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
Despite knowing her medical status, Gideon reportedly relocated Kowuka to another location to continue prostitution, collecting the earnings.
On April 28, 2025, when Kowuka handed over GH₵300, Gideon, dissatisfied with the amount, severely beat her, causing a facial injury, and seized her HIV/AIDS medication.
The victims, led by Kowuka, reported their ordeal to the Asankrangwa Police Station on April 28, 2025.
Medical examinations confirmed Kowuka’s HIV/AIDS diagnosis, and she was provided with medication.
The prosecution said Patience Gideon was arrested, and during investigations, she admitted to the offences in her caution statement before an independent witness.
A medical report on Kowuka was also submitted to the court on May 5, 2025, leading to Gideon’s arraignment.
Patience Gideon was convicted on four counts by the Tarkwa Circuit Court, having been found guilty of human trafficking under the Human Trafficking Act 2005 (Act 694), as amended, for recruiting and transporting victims for exploitation through prostitution, for which she was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Additionally, Gideon was convicted of illegal abortion under Section 58 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) for intentionally causing an abortion on Abigail Timothy, receiving a five-year sentence with hard labour.
She was also found guilty of assault under Section 84 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) for unlawfully assaulting Happiness Kowuka, resulting in a two-year sentence with hard labour.
Lastly, Gideon Patience was convicted of prostitution under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) for engaging in prostitution as a source of livelihood, for which she was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour.
In all, she will spend some 20 years in jail as the sentence is supposed to run concurrently.
Meanwhile, the court ordered that the victims be handed over to the Police Headquarters’ Anti-Human Trafficking Unit to facilitate their safe return to Nigeria.
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