A lineup of the alleged prostitutes
THIRTEEN SUSPECTED prostitutes, made up of 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian, have been arrested by the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command during a major human trafficking and organised prostitution operation.
The police also arrested two individuals; a landlord and a bouncer, who were involved in the illegal operations.
The suspects are being investigated for a range of offences, including human trafficking, assault, allowing a minor to engage in prostitution, and trading in prostitution.
The landlord was also arrested for converting the apartments into brothels, charging GH¢25 per day for their use.
The Municipal Commander, Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, during a press briefing, cautioned landlords engaged in such activities to desist from same or face immediate sanctions.
He indicated that the Command received complaint from a victim who claimed to have been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana by her alleged mistress, Christabel Simon Monday, also a Nigerian national, to engage in prostitution.
According to the complainant, she was subjected to a strict daily sales target of GH¢400 from prostitution activities. On the day of the incident, she was only able to raise GH¢250, which her alleged mistress and her boyfriend, Simon Kwarteng, reportedly rejected.
Acting on the complaint, police launched investigations and proceeded to Dabiasem, a suburb of New Juaben, where Christabel Simon Monday was arrested.
Further operations at the location led to the uncovering of a suspected brothel allegedly operated by Omari Gyamfi, the landlord of the premises.
“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.
“We also arrested another man who had constructed a house and turned it into a brothel where the women are staying.
“He collects GH¢25 per day from them. So far, about 15 persons, the youngest aged between 15 and 32 years, are in police custody and will be put before the court immediately,” he said.
Supt. Nsiah reiterated the service’s commitment to combating human trafficking, protecting children and other vulnerable persons, as well as enforcing the laws of Ghana without fear or favour.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke