30-Year-Old Businessman Faces Court for Alleged Human Trafficking and Romance Scam in Ghana
A 30-year-old businessman, Obasuyi Efosa Bright, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on September 8, 2025, charged with five counts of “Prohibition of Trafficking” for allegedly trafficking five Nigerian nationals to Ghana under false promises of well-paying jobs, only to force them into a romance scam operation.
Bright pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, with the court ordering him to report to the police twice a month.
The prosecution’s case, presented before the court, detailed that on August 21, 2025, the Cybercrime Unit of the CID Headquarters and operatives from the Cyber Security Authority acted on a tip-off and raided a three-bedroom apartment at Adom Estates, Tema Community 25.
They found Bright and the five Nigerian victims, aged 19 to 25, operating six laptop computers connected to the internet via a Korean web application called “BAND,” allegedly used to perpetrate romance scams targeting unsuspecting victims.
Investigations revealed that Bright was the leader of the cybercrime syndicate, having lured the victims to Ghana with promises of legitimate employment.
Instead, they were coerced into engaging in fraudulent online activities. The victims have been rescued and placed in a safe location, while the laptops seized during the raid are set to undergo forensic examination at the Cyber Security Authority’s laboratory.
The prosecution noted that investigations are ongoing, and disclosures will be filed and served to the defense counsel and the accused.
This case adds to growing concerns about human trafficking and cybercrime in Ghana, with similar incidents reported in recent years. In April 2025, two Nigerians were convicted by the Achimota Circuit Court for trafficking women into prostitution, and in December 2023, another Nigerian businessman faced charges for trafficking four youths for internet fraud. The court’s decision to grant bail has sparked debate, with authorities urged to ensure robust monitoring to prevent further illicit activities.
