The Ghana Police Service has arrested 15 suspects, including a landlord and a bouncer, in a major operation targeting human trafficking and child exploitation networks in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
According to the Police Service, the operation was conducted on Monday, February 10, 2026, at facilities that had been identified as hotspots for the trafficking and sexual exploitation of young women, particularly foreign nationals.
The police indicated that 13 suspected commercial sex workers were arrested alongside the landlord of the premises, identified as Omari Gyamfi, and a bouncer employed to provide security for the illegal activities.
All suspects are currently under investigation for offences related to human trafficking and the exploitation of children.
During the raid, police rescued a 15-year-old girl who was reportedly being exploited at the facility. She has since been separated from the suspects and referred to the Department of Social Welfare for counselling and rehabilitation.
Investigations suggest that the victims were lured to the locations with false promises of employment or travel opportunities.
Upon arrival, they were allegedly coerced into commercial sex work and other exploitative activities under the pretext of paying off fabricated debts imposed by their traffickers.
The Koforidua operation forms part of a broader nationwide crackdown on organised crime and human trafficking syndicates.
In January this year, the police in Ho arrested seven suspects and rescued 48 victims who were deceived with promises of travel. In a separate raid in Gomoa Buduburam, 46 victims were rescued from an apartment where they were allegedly forced to solicit money from relatives.
Earlier this month, on February 5, 2026, two Chinese nationals were also remanded in custody for allegedly trafficking a Vietnamese woman and forcing her into prostitution in Tema and Accra.
The Police Service said the Koforidua arrests fall under an intelligence-led nationwide initiative dubbed “Operation Quest,” being carried out in collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Authorities say the operation will continue as part of intensified efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable persons, especially minors, across the country.
