Ghanian police arrest 12 Nigerian women over prostitution

Thursday, February 12, 2026 - 13 commercial s3x workers, including 12 Nigerian women and a Ghanaian woman, were arrested during a special operation targeting prostitution and human trafficking in Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana. 

The police also arrested two individuals; a landlord and a bouncer, who were involved in the illegal operations.

The New Juaben South Municipal Police Command made the arrest on Monday, February 10, 2026, following a complaint lodged on Thursday, February 6, 2026, by Stella Godwill, a 30-year-old Nigerian national and commercial s3x worker residing at Nsukwao in Koforidua. 

According to the Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, the complainant reported that she had been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana by her alleged mistress, Christabel Simon Monday, also a Nigerian national, for prostitution. 

Godwill told police she was required to make a daily sales target of 400 Ghana cedis from prostitution activities. 

On the day of the incident, she was only able to raise 250 Ghana cedis, which her mistress and her boyfriend, Simon Kwarteng, allegedly refused to accept.

The complainant further alleged that she was physically assaulted by the two suspects over her inability to meet the target.

Following the complaint, police commenced investigations and moved to Dabiasem, a suburb of New Juaben, where the suspect, Christabel Simon Monday, was arrested.

Investigations also revealed a brothel operating in Dabiasem, which led to the arrest of 12 other suspects. 

Police say condoms were found on them during the operation.

“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.

“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.”

The suspects, aged 15 to 31, are believed to have violated Sections 273, 274, and 277 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which prohibit prostitution, human trafficking, and operating brothels.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustine Kusi Asante, Municipal Crime Officer, warned landlords against renting out properties for such activities.

Section 277 frowns on operating a brothel and landlords who facilitate such activities will face the full rigours of the law, ASP Asante said, urging the public to report suspicious activity.

Superintendent Nsiah confirmed that the suspects are in custody, with the minor involved separated for protection. 

Arrangements are being made with the Department of Social Welfare, and investigations are ongoing before the suspects are arraigned in court.

The Municipal Crime Officer expressed concern about the involvement of minors, some as young as 15, in commercial s3x work. 

He appealed to the public to support police efforts by providing information that could lead to the arrest of traffickers and the protection of vulnerable persons.

Police say investigations are ongoing, while steps are being taken to ensure that affected persons, particularly minors, are safeguarded as the legal process continues.

Commercial s3x work remains illegal in Ghana under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for individuals involved in prostitution, human trafficking, and operating brothels. 

Section 273 of the Act criminalises prostitution, while Section 274 addresses human trafficking, and Section 277 prohibits the operation of brothels.

The arrests come amid concerns about sex trafficking and commercial sex activities involving minors in the Eastern Region, particularly in Koforidua.

Previous investigations have uncovered sex trafficking cartels, mostly involving Ghanaians and Nigerians, who trafficked young girls from Nigeria to Koforidua under the pretense of employing them in the hospitality industry, but forced them into prostitution upon arrival.