Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
KOFORIDUA, Ghana — Police in Ghana’s Eastern Region have arrested 15 individuals, including 12 Nigerian nationals, in what authorities describe as a targeted operation against prostitution and suspected human trafficking in the municipality of New Juaben South. The arrests followed complaints from alleged victims who told investigators they had been coerced into commercial sex work after being trafficked from Nigeria.
The operation was led by officers from the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command in Koforidua. According to police, 13 individuals initially suspected of engaging in commercial sex activities were apprehended, comprising 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian. Two additional suspects — a landlord accused of converting his property into a brothel and a man described as a bouncer associated with the operation — were subsequently taken into custody, bringing the total number of arrests to 15.
The police action stemmed from a complaint filed on February 6 by a 30-year-old Nigerian woman identified as Stella Godwill. She alleged that she had been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana by a woman named Christabel Simon under the pretext of legitimate employment, but was instead compelled to engage in prostitution. According to Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, Municipal Police Commander for New Juaben South, the complainant reported that she had been given a daily earnings target of 400 Ghana cedis but managed to earn only 250 cedis on the day in question. She further alleged that she was assaulted by her trafficker and the trafficker’s boyfriend, identified as Simon Kwarteng, for failing to meet the imposed quota.
Following the complaint, police launched an investigation that led them to Dabiasem, a neighborhood within the New Juaben municipality. Officers conducted a coordinated raid in the area on Monday, February 10, 2026, resulting in the initial arrests. Further inquiries directed investigators to a suspected brothel in the vicinity, where additional suspects were apprehended. During the operation, police reported seizing condoms and other items believed to be connected to the alleged activities.
Superintendent Nsiah disclosed that a separate complaint had also been received from another Nigerian woman who claimed she was assaulted by a woman described as a “queen mother,” allegedly overseeing the sex workers, for failing to meet the same daily target of 400 cedis. Police indicated that this second report reinforced suspicions of a structured and possibly organized system that imposed financial quotas on the women involved.
Authorities further alleged that one of the arrested individuals had constructed or converted a residential property into a brothel where the women resided. The suspect is said to have charged the occupants 25 Ghana cedis per day. A man described as a bouncer was also arrested for allegedly facilitating operations at the premises.
According to police statements, approximately 15 suspects between the ages of 15 and 31 are currently in custody. Officers confirmed that one minor was among those detained and has since been separated from the adult suspects for her protection. Arrangements are being coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are taken for the minor.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Augustine Kusi Asante, the Municipal Crime Officer, warned property owners against leasing premises for unlawful purposes. He cited Section 277 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960, which criminalizes the operation of a brothel and prescribes penalties that may include fines or imprisonment. Police also referenced Sections 273 and 274 of the same Act, which address offenses related to prostitution and human trafficking.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court following the completion of preliminary investigations. Police officials stated that inquiries are ongoing to determine whether additional individuals may be connected to the alleged trafficking network and whether other victims remain unidentified.
Law enforcement authorities in the Eastern Region expressed concern about the involvement of minors in commercial sex work and the cross-border dimension of the alleged trafficking. Officials said the case reflects broader patterns previously uncovered in the region, in which young women were reportedly lured from Nigeria with promises of employment in hospitality or other sectors, only to be coerced into prostitution upon arrival.
Ghana has in recent years intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, including enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries and public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging exploitative recruitment practices. Nonetheless, police acknowledge that trafficking networks often adapt their methods, exploiting economic vulnerability and limited employment opportunities in both origin and destination countries.
Authorities have urged members of the public to provide information that could assist in dismantling trafficking syndicates and protecting vulnerable individuals. Police emphasized that combating exploitation requires coordinated action involving law enforcement agencies, social welfare institutions and community stakeholders.
Investigations into the Koforidua operation remain active, and officials have indicated that further updates will be provided as the case proceeds through the judicial system.
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