The Bekwai Circuit Court has remanded 44 suspected sex workers and their alleged clients into police custody after a dawn swoop at Watreso near Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region.
Presided over by His Honour Isaac Apietu, the court ordered that the suspects remain in custody and reappear on May 14, 2026, as they face multiple charges including human trafficking under Section 2 of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), illegal entry into Ghana contrary to Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), and keeping of a brothel under Section 277 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The prosecution, led by ASP Lloyd Baidoo, told the court that the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected brothel activities in the area.
The raid, carried out on April 21, 2026, was led by the Deputy District Commander, ASP Charles Boadi Kankam, with support from officers of the Manso Adubia and Manso Nkwanta Police Commands. It followed earlier arrests in connection with one Esther Egbuhama, a 28-year-old Nigerian woman allegedly linked to the operation of an illegal brothel in the community.
In their first appearance, proceedings were briefly stalled when five of the suspects, believed to be Nigerians, told the court they could not speak English. The suspects indicated they could only speak Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo languages.
However, at their second appearance, the court had secured an interpreter to assist them, allowing proceedings to continue smoothly.
Meanwhile, the court granted bail to two of the accused persons on GH¢200,000 each with two sureties to be justified, while the remaining suspects were granted GH¢50,000 bail each with two sureties, not to be justified.
In all, 31 women and 13 men, comprising both Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals, were arrested from various suspected brothel locations.
Police say items retrieved from the operation include 88 boxes of  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) condoms, 30 smartphones, four keypad phones, quantities of ORIS cigarettes, and GH¢35,000 cash allegedly linked to Ofor Masacanaba, believed to be the operator of Mama Gee Lodge.
FROM David Afum, Bekwai