Ghanaian woman recounts alleged abuse and captivity in Iraq after being trafficked for promised job in Jordan
via GhanaWeb5 min read
A young Ghanaian woman from the Western North Region has shared her experience of alleged deception, abuse, and captivity in Iraq. She left Ghana in May 2025 after agents promised her a job in Jordan, hoping to escape illegal mining. However, upon arrival, she discovered she had been taken to Baghdad, Iraq. The agents handled all her travel arrangements and assured her of good work conditions. She was met at Baghdad International Airport by an unfamiliar agent and taken to a camp for African women, where new arrivals were forced to surrender their mobile phones after contacting family. Access to phones was restricted. She remained at the facility for seven months before being assigned a job caring for an elderly woman, which she found physically impossible. Her refusal led to severe punishment, including being beaten and locked in a small cell for days without food or water. She alleged that attempts to seek help were ignored, and she was later transferred to another household where mistreatment continued, including scarce food. Her health deteriorated, and she developed a breast infection but was denied medical treatment, leading to hearing difficulties and stomach complications. She also described overcrowded conditions at the camp, with over 25 women housed in small, poorly ventilated rooms.
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