Bekwai Court Remands 44 Sex Trafficking Bust
The Bekwai Circuit Court has remanded 44 suspected sex workers and their alleged clients into police custody following a dawn raid at Watreso near Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region.
The court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Apietu, ordered the suspects to remain in custody and reappear on May 14, 2025, as they face multiple charges including human trafficking, illegal entry into Ghana, and keeping of a brothel.
They have been charged under Section 2 of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), and 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 illegal brothel activities in the area on April 21, 2025.
The operation was carried out by the Manso Adubia District Police Command under the leadership of Deputy District Commander, ASP Charles Boadi Kankam, with support from officers at Manso Adubia and Manso Nkwanta.
Police said the raid followed earlier arrests involving one Esther Egbuhama, a 28-year-old Nigerian woman alleged to be operating a brothel in the community.
Court proceedings were initially stalled when five of the suspects, believed to be Nigerians, informed the court that they could not speak English. They indicated they could only communicate in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo.
However, during their second appearance, the court secured an interpreter, allowing proceedings to continue.
In all, 31 women and 13 men, comprising both Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals, were arrested from multiple locations identified as brothels.
Some of the female suspects include Nancy Omari, Beauty Joseph, Precious Omowuni, Joy Godwin, Adafo Asa Brown, Lucy Emmanuel, Favour Thompson, Princess Promise, Sandra Joshua, and Ofor Masacanaba, among others.
The male suspects include Mensah Emmanuel, Kwabena Boakye, Frimpong Justice, Joseph Sahar, Joshua Bawa, Akwesi Jonathan, and others.
Police retrieved 88 boxes of UNFPA condoms, 30 smartphones, four keypad phones, quantities of ORIS cigarettes, and GH¢35,000 in cash allegedly linked to Ofor Masacanaba, believed to be the operator of Mama Gee Lodge.
