Ghana sex worker arrests in New Juaben South lead to 15 in custody, including Nigerians; minors separated, investigations ongoing into trafficking networks

Operatives of the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command in Koforidua, Eastern Region of Ghana, have arrested 13 suspected commercial sex workers, including 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian, during a special operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking.

Also read: Ghanaian landlord arrested in Rivers for de-roofing tenant’s apartment, N25m property destroyed

Police also apprehended two additional suspects: a landlord accused of providing accommodation for the activities and a bouncer allegedly linked to the operation.

According to a report by Modern Ghana, the arrests were carried out on Monday, February 10, following a complaint filed on February 6 by 30-year-old Nigerian woman Stella Godwill.

Stella Godwill alleged that she had been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana by a woman identified as Christabel Simon Monday for prostitution.

Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, Municipal Police Commander, said the complainant claimed she was required to meet a daily earnings target of 400 Ghana cedis but could only raise 250 cedis, prompting alleged assault by her trafficker and the latter’s boyfriend, Simon Kwarteng.

Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and moved to Dabiasem, a suburb of New Juaben, where Christabel Simon Monday was arrested.

Further inquiries led officers to a suspected brothel in the same area, resulting in the arrest of 12 additional suspects and the recovery of condoms.

“Last Sunday, we received a complaint from another Nigerian lady that she had been assaulted by her mistress, whom we normally call a ‘queen mother.’

The assault happened because she could not meet the daily target of GH¢400 set by the queen mother,” Superintendent Nsiah said.

He added that a man who converted his property into a brothel, charging occupants GH¢25 daily, was also arrested.

Police confirmed that about 15 suspects, aged between 15 and 32, are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court following investigations.

The minor among them has been separated for protection, with arrangements being made through the Department of Social Welfare.

Assistant Superintendent Augustine Kusi Asante, Municipal Crime Officer, warned landlords against renting properties for illegal activities, citing Section 277 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960, which criminalises operating a brothel and prescribes penalties including fines or imprisonment.

Police said the suspects have violated Sections 273, 274, and 277 of the Act, which prohibit prostitution, human trafficking, and brothel operations.

Authorities expressed concern over the involvement of minors in commercial sex activities and urged the public to provide information to help dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable persons.

Also read: Former Ghana First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings dies at 76

Investigations are ongoing as part of broader efforts to curb trafficking and exploitation in the Eastern Region, where previous probes uncovered syndicates allegedly luring young girls from Nigeria with promises of hospitality jobs before forcing them into prostitution.