It's shameful and absolutely degrading that Nigerian girls now go to Ghana for prostitution. This might actually be no news if you have visited Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Bourkina-Faso, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and all Western Sahara Countries, you will cry for our dear nation Nigeria! Nigerian girls are not only brought into Ghana but also to Europe, abusing their hope of a better life.
The Nigerian Voice Magazine learnt that a group of Nigerian sex traders ship these girls off to Ghana where they are linked with prominent Ghanaians for the purpose of prostitution in exchange for money. All over the world sex business is lucrative- not for the girls, but for those who bring them into that line of business, those who "protect" them are referred to as “promoters" or "agents" and "madams" instead of been simply addressed as pimps or human traffickers.
The madams or agents as they are referred to bring these girls from Nigeria without telling most of them the reason they are brought to Ghana, once they are there and realize what they have to do,it's too late! The most sympathetic part is that these girls are asked to pay exuberant prices ranging from Ghc2500 to Ghc 4000 ($1600-$2500) depending on which part of Nigeria they are from, their skin colour and body shape.
According to one of the girls we spoke to by the name Sharon, we learned she was asked to pay the sum of Ghc3500 ($2000) based on the distance her agent travelled to bring her to Ghana. You will find these ladies at Tasco Guest House in Adum, a suburb area of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Some of the young ones newly brought in are between the ages of 14-17yrs and are taken to a place called Plaza hotel at Dichemso by 6pm everyday to hustle and return to their hotel by 12am, while some go to "the street" like they fondly call it at Ahodwo road in kumasi where we have most night clubs to do their business. They also have their headquarters at Adum about 5min walk from their guest house. The price paid by guys to have sex with these girls varies and solely depends on where they have the agreement. The girls on street charge Ghc20-Ghc50 ($12-$30) for short time sex and Ghc50-Ghc100 ($30-$65) for the whole night, while the ones at the Plaza hotel charge Ghc5-Ghc10 ($4-$7) and mostly don't go over night because they are completely exhausted. The ones at Adum the headquarters also charge the same with the plaza girls, though they take customers over night and charge according to the status of the customer.
These girls conditions are really disheartening considering what they are exposed to; most of them use almost seven months to pay back the money. Even at that, when they request to go back to Nigeria they are made to swear to different kind of oaths that will keep them in Ghana and in the trade.
Poverty and desperation for financial success amongst some Nigerians have led them into prostitution and, the trade of innocent young bright Nigerian girls. Nigeria, a country which is supposed be referred to as the pride of Africa is losing under aged girls who are the future of the country to prostitution in Ghana our next door neighbor not to talk about Overseas.
The Nigerian governments have failed the Nigerian youths and the citizens at large, I have time without number tried to imagine what the future holds for our young ones who should be in school studying hard to contribute to the nation's development in the future, instead have decided to go after quick money and AIDS! I know every reader might be pointing fingers and saying all kind of things, but seriously speaking this is not a time to point fingers but to do something about it. Most of these ladies are educated but, cannot find jobs or anybody to help them. Majority of them do not enjoy being sex workers. We should have a look at the circumstances which have led these girls into prostitution and have forced them to remain in the trade.
I vividly remember how Ghanaians were flocking into Nigeria in the 1980's in search of greener prospects and better living standard. The Ghana must go bags incidents still lingers in my mind. Amazingly 30 years later, Nigerian's; both the rich, poor and our industries are rushing to the same Ghana and funny enough they are been welcomed with a new kind of bags "The Nigeria must come Bags".
Nigeria!!! What a country, blessed but shallow deep in poverty. It simply shows our past and present leaders have failed us.
Conclusively, it is very important for the government of Nigeria most especially the diplomatic mission in Ghana to come to their aid, most of these girls are under aged who can still make good use of their life and should not be caught up in such acts.
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