Deceived by a friend’s false promise of lucrative employment in Ghana, a Nigerian endured a harrowing journey, only to find herself stranded, misled, and N500,000 poorer.
An Abuja-based Point of Sale (POS) operator Blessing John has narrated how she was allegedly deceived by her friend Mercy into travelling to Ghana with the promise of a lucrative job at a jewellery store.
Blessing said she was promised a lucrative job at a jewellery store in Ghana which led her on the journey, only to find herself stranded and misled.
"My name is Blessing John Okay. In February 2024, I was in my shop when my friend Mercy called me to inform me she had relocated from Kaduna Road to Ghana," Blessing recounted. "I was surprised and asked her how she managed to move to Ghana. She explained that she had finished her service (National Youth Service Corps Programme), and one of her classmates had helped her get a job there."
According to Mercy, she was employed at a jewellery store in Ghana, earning an initial salary of 2,500 cedis (N250,000), which had since increased to 3,500 cedis (N350,000). Mercy suggested that Blessing join her, claiming the company was recruiting and encouraging her to send her credentials, Blessing said while narrating her ordeal during the Brekete Family Radio and Television show in Abuja.
"One day, while I was at my shop, I received a call from Ghana informing me that I had been employed by the company I had submitted my CV to. Excited, I called Mercy to share the news. She told me to prepare to travel from Abuja to Ghana," Blessing said.
Blessing embarked on her journey, taking a night bus from Abuja to Lagos. Upon arrival in Lagos, she was instructed to contact an agent named Mr. Kenneth, who guided her through the immigration process for a fee of N80,000. She then paid an additional N80,000 for the trip to Kumasi, Ghana.
"I travelled by boat to Ghana. Upon arrival, my picture was taken to be forwarded to another agent who would pick me up," she explained.
She said Mr. Matthew, the agent in Kumasi, helped her with her luggage and guided her on a night journey that took four days to complete.
"The following morning, Mercy told me to go for an interview, which I thought would be at a jewellery store. Instead, we arrived at a four-bedroom apartment where many people were living. I was confused, but Mercy assured me it was just an interview centre," Blessing said.
The admin manager interviewed Blessing, stating that her department would be determined based on the interview results. In the manager's office, Blessing met some fellow Nigerians who explained that the job included a weekly allowance on top of the salary.
However, the reality was far from what she was told.
"I was informed that I needed to pay N650,000 to start working, which Mercy had not mentioned earlier," Blessing revealed.
Confronting Mercy about this new demand to lend her some money, Mercy said she had no money as she had sent all her savings to her mother in Nigeria.
Desperate to return to Nigeria, Blessing met another Nigerian girl named Blessing, who had also been deceived and stranded in Ghana after paying N850,000.
Together, they sought advice from a local Ghanaian store owner who confirmed that there were no immigration or work permits in place.
"The man advised me to return to Nigeria or start a small business in Ghana," Blessing said. Determined to go home, she asked Mercy to refund the money she had transferred for transport back to Nigeria.
"She initially refused, but eventually, we went to the office to resolve the issue. However, the office was empty except for a few people, and there was no sign of the promised jewellery store job," she said.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Blessing expressed a mix of anger and relief.
"I never imagined my friend would deceive me like this. It was a painful lesson, but I’m just grateful to be back home safely," she concluded.
I spent roughly N500,000 for the journey, Blessing added.
In a related development, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Tuesday said it had rescued two Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
This comes barely a week after the commission rescued 11 Nigerian girls who were also trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
NiDCOM Chairman and CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued by the commission's Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the girls were rescued on Monday.
Dabiri-Erewa said the two girls whose rescue operation was facilitated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, under the leadership of the Chairman, BOT, Chief Calistus, were in safe custody.