GHANA CONVICTS HUMAN TRAFFICKER--AND U.S. JUSTICE

UNCLAS ACCRA 000294 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, JUSTICE FOR KARLYN HUNTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: GH PHUM PREL KTIP SNAR JUS PGOV SUBJECT: GHANA CONVICTS HUMAN TRAFFICKER--AND U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROSECUTOR'S ROLE IS PRAISED ¶1. (U) Summary. A Ghanaian court has convicted a Nigerian woman for her role in the trafficking of a fourteen year old Togolese female. The conviction is the second under Ghana's 2005 Human Trafficking Act, with at least one other high profile case pending. The head of the Ghana Police Service's Anti-Trafficking Unit praised the work of Department of Justice prosecutor Karlyn Hunter, who through the OPDAT program worked with Ghanaian officials in 2007-08 to improve their capacity to investigate and prosecute human traffickers. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Patience Quaye, head of the Ghana Police Service CID's Anti-Trafficking Unit (and 2007 recipient of the Department's anti-trafficking hero award) told POLOFF that the conviction was in large measure secured because of improved investigation and prosecution techniques taught by the DOJ's Hunter. Quaye praised Hunter's contributions, which included training for over 300 Ghanaian criminal justice officials. Hunter spent seven months at CID headquarters, working closely with her counterparts. ¶3. (U) The Accra Circuit Court on March 30 sentenced a Nigerian woman, Princess Thomas Dupe, to eight years at hard labor for her role in the trafficking of a fourteen year old Togolese female. Dupe brought the Togolese child into Ghana without the knowledge of the girl's parents, with the intention of transporting her to Burkina Faso for use as a domestic servant. When Dupe ran short of bus fare she attempted to "rent out" the girl, whom she alleged to be her relative, as a maid to an Accra woman for the sum of 15 cedis a month ($10). The victim later told her new "employer" that she was not related to Dupe. The Accra woman called the police, who arrested Dupe when she returned to collect payment. ¶4. (SBU) In a high profile case, three Chinese nationals are currently on trial before the same Circuit Court Judge accused of trafficking seven Chinese women to Ghana for forced use in a prostitution ring. The women were enticed to come to Ghana with promises of jobs in a restaurant. The women were rescued by the CID earlier this year; the court case is moving expeditiously. Quaye told POLOFF that the evidence against the traffickers is very strong and she believes that convictions are likely, perhaps in the next two to three weeks. The case has attracted wide media attention. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. Over her several months in Ghana, Hunter was able to build professional relationships with police and prosecutors, develop training that met local needs, and most importantly, serve as mentor and resource person for the anti-trafficking unit. Ms. Hunter left post in June; her work- and the benefits of the OPDAT program-- are being realized. The conviction of the Nigerian woman, and the possible conviction of the Chinese, shows a growing confidence on the part of Ghanaian anti-trafficking officials and a greater willingness to invoke the provisions of the Human Trafficking Act. End Comment. TEITELBAUM