Madam Jailed for Aiding HIV-Positive Sex Worker and Trafficking Young Women
The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Patience Gold, also known as “Gold,” to 20 years in prison for human trafficking and related offences involving four young women trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.
According to court proceedings presided over by Judge Hathia Ama Manu, Gold lured the victims from Benue State, Nigeria, under the pretense of offering them jobs as bar attendants at her drinking spot in Asankra-Moscaso. Upon their arrival in Ghana on March 22 and 27, 2025, she forced them into prostitution instead.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Samuel Ahiabor, who presented the case, told the court that when the women resisted, Gold subjected them to abuse. She forcibly shaved their pubic hair, removed their fingernails, and coerced them into taking a traditional oath, warning that failure to comply would result in madness. Out of fear, the victims complied and engaged in commercial sex work, with all proceeds going to Gold.
One of the victims was pregnant upon arriving in Ghana. On March 28, 2025, Gold administered a herbal concoction to terminate the pregnancy—an act the court deemed an illegal abortion.
In another troubling development, a victim diagnosed with HIV/AIDS on March 12, 2025, was relocated by Gold to a different town to continue working in prostitution, fearing her status would become known locally. Gold continued to collect money from her work.
When the victim later handed over GH¢300, Gold allegedly became angry, assaulted her, and caused facial injuries. She also confiscated the victim’s antiretroviral medication.
Following the assault, the victim confided in the other trafficked women, and together they reported the abuse to the Asankrangwa Police Station, leading to Gold’s arrest and prosecution.
Gold faced four charges: human trafficking, illegal abortion, assault, and promoting prostitution. The court sentenced her to 20 years for trafficking, five years for illegal abortion, and two months each for assault and prostitution. All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of 20 years in prison.
