Some members of the cross-border human trafficking and exploitation network arrested
Correspondence from the Eastern Region
A coordinated police operation in Koforidua has uncovered what authorities describe as a cross-border human trafficking and exploitation network involving foreign nationals, a minor, and suspected local collaborators.
The New Juaben South Municipal Police Command announced the arrest of 15 individuals following investigations into allegations of assault, human trafficking, and the operation of a brothel in parts of the municipality.
Among those found at the premises was a 15-year-old girl believed to have been trafficked across multiple countries before arriving in Ghana.
The operation was triggered by a complaint filed on 6 February 2026 by a 30-year-old Nigerian woman who alleged that she had been lured from Nigeria to Ghana under false promises and forced into commercial sex work. According to police, she was required to meet a daily earnings target of GH¢400.
When she reportedly fell short of that amount, she was allegedly assaulted by her handler and an accomplice who happens to be her boyfriend.
Police investigations led officers to a property at Dabiasem in Koforidua, where several women were residing in what authorities say functioned as a brothel.
The facility, allegedly operated by a local suspect, had been partitioned into smaller units and rented out to occupants at daily rates ranging between GH¢25 and GH¢40.
Municipal Police Commander Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, addressing the media, indicated that the case highlights growing concerns about organised recruitment networks operating across borders.
He referenced an earlier 2025 incident in which a 24-year-old Nigerian woman was allegedly killed by her partner under circumstances linked to similar exploitation.
According to the Municipal Crime Officer, ASP Augustine Asante Kusi, the minor discovered during the raid had initially been sent to another African country before being relocated to Ghana after reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with her conditions. Upon arrival, she was allegedly handed over to another handler.
Under Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), it is illegal to engage a minor in prostitution or to live on the earnings of prostitution.
Additionally, the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) criminalises the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of persons for exploitation. Police say charges under these provisions are being prepared.
The 15-year-old has been separated from the adult detainees and placed under protective care, with social welfare authorities involved.
The remaining suspects are assisting with investigations and are expected to be arraigned.
Beyond the immediate arrests, law enforcement officials are warning property owners against facilitating such operations. Operating or knowingly allowing premises to be used as a brothel constitutes a criminal offence under Section 277 of Act 29.
Authorities also raised public health concerns, noting that unregulated commercial sex activities increase vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The Eastern Region has historically recorded elevated HIV prevalence rates compared to some other regions, prompting renewed enforcement and community engagement efforts.
Police are appealing to residents to provide timely information about suspected trafficking or exploitation activities, emphasising that community cooperation is critical in dismantling such networks.
“This is not just about arrests,” one officer stated. “It is about protecting vulnerable persons, particularly minors, and disrupting organised systems that profit from exploitation.”
Investigations are ongoing as police work to determine the full extent of the network and whether additional suspects may be involved.