A 24-year-old Nigerian national, Mariam Yussif, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for human trafficking by the Gender-Based Violence Court in Tamale.
According to the Northern Regional Police Command, Yussif and her 22-year-old sister, Precious Clement, were arrested in Yendi on August 17, 2026, over their alleged involvement in recruiting and transporting victims from Nigeria to Ghana for sexual exploitation.
Yussif was charged with one count of human trafficking under Section 2(1) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), and arraigned before the court on August 19. She pleaded not guilty and was remanded into prison custody.
The Police said she reappeared before the court on October 22, 2026, after several adjournments and was convicted following the conclusion of the trial.
She has since been transferred to Tamale Central Prison to begin serving her sentence.
The Police said no case was established against Clement, who was subsequently released.
The two victims involved in the case have also been repatriated to Nigeria and reunited with their respective families.
The Northern Regional Police Command said the conviction highlighted the importance of intelligence-led operations, thorough investigations and effective prosecution in the fight against human trafficking.
It reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and urged the public to report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.
