Ghana Police Rescue Trafficked Nigerian Teenager in Tarkwa

Tarkwa, Ghana – November 5, 2025

A 15-year-old Nigerian girl has been rescued by the Western Central Regional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Tarkwa after being trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana and forced into sex work.

The victim was lured from Enugu to Lagos under the false promise of a cleaning job by an accomplice, identified only as Golden Blessing, who remains at large. She was then handed over to 25-year-old Joy Ogbonna, who transported her to Tarkwa and confined her in a room, where she was coerced into prostitution.

The victim went missing in October 2025. Her father, Ogbonno Onuigbo, reported her disappearance to authorities in Nigeria. On October 24, the girl managed to contact her father, revealing she had been trafficked and was being abused in Ghana.

Acting on the report, police launched an investigation and arrested Joy Ogbonna on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Aboso near Tarkwa. A medical examination later confirmed the victim was five weeks pregnant.

“Through the intervention of a helpful passerby, the victim was able to contact her father, leading to her rescue,” the police statement read.

Joy Ogbonna is currently in custody and will be arraigned before court soon. Efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest Golden Blessing, believed to be in Nigeria.

Police Call for Public Vigilance

In a press release issued on November 5, 2025, the Western Central Regional Police Command commended the public for their support and urged continued vigilance in the fight against human trafficking.

“The Western Central Regional Police Command commends the public for their support and timely intervention and reaffirms its commitment to fighting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable persons from all forms of exploitation,” the statement said.

Source: Ghana Police Service – Public Affairs Unit, Regional Headquarters, Tarkwa/WCR
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