Togolese man charged for human trafficking

Kwabena Seidu Ogaloko, a Togolese national, who trafficked three boys from Dambai to Nigeria under the pretext of buying them motor bikes and other goods if they agree to work as shop assistants in that country for eight years, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday for human trafficking.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded into Police custody to re-appear on January 31, 2012.

The three trafficked boys are Gideon Agyei, Wisdom Ganyoh and Sunday all from Dambai in the Volta Region.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mary Agbozo said the accused, Ogaloko is a Togolese residing at Ofosu near Dambai in the Krachi East District of the Volta Region.

She said in 2010, intelligence gathered indicated that the accused recruited three boys Agyei, Ganyoh and Sunday at Dambai and trafficked them to Nigeria under the pretext of buying them motor bikes, roofing sheets and cash if they agree to work eight years in that country as shop assistants.

The prosecutor said Ogaloko, however, sold the three boys to one Alhaji Sumaila of Illory State who used them as farm hands in 2010 and 2011.

ASP Agbozo said the victims, however, escaped after years of inhuman treatment and found their way to Benin where they are currently in the hands of security officials.

He said arrangements were being made to transfer the victims to Ghana to identify the accused for further investigations.

Source: GNA