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.
