Operatives of the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command in Ghana’s Eastern Region have arrested 13 suspected commercial sex workers—12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian—during an operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking.
Two additional suspects, a landlord accused of providing accommodation for the activities and a bouncer allegedly linked to the operation, were also apprehended.
According to the Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, the arrests on Monday followed a complaint filed on February 6 by 30-year-old Nigerian woman Stella Godwill. She told authorities she had been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana by a woman identified as Christabel Simon Monday for prostitution.
The complainant alleged she was required to meet a daily earnings target of 400 Ghana cedis but could only raise 250 cedis on the day of the incident.
Police said about 15 suspects, aged between 15 and 31, are currently in custody and will be arraigned after investigations. The minor among them has been separated for protection, with arrangements being made through the Department of Social Welfare.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Augustine Kusi Asante, the 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.
The suspects are alleged to have violated Sections 273, 274, and 277 of the Act, which prohibit prostitution, human trafficking, and brothel operations.
Police expressed concern over the involvement of minors in commercial sex activities and urged the public to provide information to help dismantle trafficking networks. Authorities said investigations are ongoing as part of broader efforts to curb trafficking and exploitation in the Eastern Region.
