Two farm labourers jailed 10 years for human trafficking

Two farm labourers, who attempted to sell a 19-year-old boy, Nyantor Kwabena for a sum of GHc80, 000.00 have been sentenced to five years imprisonment each by the Tarkwa circuit court.

The criminals, Henry Aggor, 24, and Benjamin Aggor, 20, both pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Edward Paddy told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant Okoro Lampson is a carpenter at Sefwi Kwesikrom, while the offenders and the victim are natives of Maafe Adidome in the Volta Region.

He said Henry on five occasions visited Sefwi Kwesikrom with other friends to end a living from engaging in farming activities during the cocoa season but on January 23, this year he came alone for the same purpose.

According to the Prosecutor, Benjamin and the victim on December 31, last year left their home town to Wassa Ankaase with the view of joining some "galamsayers" (illegal miners) to work but after some days their expectation was not met so through communication with Henry, they left Wassa Ankaase to join him at Sefwi Kwesikrom to search for farm work.

He said things were again not getting on well so the convicts conspired and agreed to sell the victim.

Chief Inspector Paddy said Henry approached the complainant and told him their intention about the victim and Okoro wanting to trap them showed interest and promised to look for a buyer.

He said on January 25th this month, the complainant informed the convicts that he had found a buyer at Dadieso and so they left together with the victim to Dadieso and lodged at Nyametease hotel.

He said while the criminals were waiting in their respective rooms, the complainant sneaked out and informed the Police Station officer at Dadieso about the deal and he intend delegated one of his officers to pose as a buyer.

The Prosecutor said he then met the convicts and they bargained over the money for the sale of the victim and finally agreed on GHC80, 000.00 after which the buyer left and brought into the room a bag containing lotto papers.

Chief Inspector Paddy said while the convicts were conversing, two other policemen, who had laid ambush near the hotel, were signaled and they rushed in to arrest Henry and Benjamin.