Ghana Law Enforcement Crackdown: Security Agencies Arrest Dozens for Child Abuse, Internet Fraud, and Illegal Mining

Ghana's security agencies have intensified operations across the country, resulting in the arrest of nearly 120 individuals for a range of serious offenses, from child exploitation to large-scale cybercrime. In a major joint operation, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, and National Security apprehended 45-year-old Ebenezer Conduah, a pastor at the Mahanaim Christian Center in Cape Coast. Conduah is accused of the repeated defilement of a 13-year-old girl since 2021 and the possession of child sexual abuse materials. The investigation began after the survivor reported the abuse to her school headmistress; digital devices seized from the suspect are currently undergoing forensic analysis ahead of his March 27 court appearance.

Simultaneously, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) conducted a massive raid at the DEVTRACO Estate, led by Deputy Superintendent Newman Akuffo. The operation resulted in the arrest of 93 Nigerian nationals for alleged internet fraud and significant immigration violations. Crucially, the raid led to the rescue of 73 individuals who had reportedly suffered severe abuse within the syndicate's operations. Authorities confiscated counterfeit US dollars, fake gold bars, and various electronic devices. While the rescued victims have been repatriated to Nigeria, the GIS has reiterated its commitment to prosecuting human trafficking and immigration breaches to the fullest extent of the law.

Domestic and community-level crimes have also seen swift police action. In the Bono East Region, three suspects—Rafiu Haruna, Muftawu Adamu, and Michael Owusu Spermi—were arrested for the murder of Nana Serwaa Asaamaa Kuma Gyan, the Queenmother of Abamba. Meanwhile, in the Central Region, a fetish priest's shrine in Awutu Bentum was razed by an angry mob after he allegedly murdered his girlfriend for ritual purposes. These incidents highlight a period of heightened social tension and the resulting pressure on local law enforcement to maintain public order and justice for victims of violent crime.

On the environmental front, the Forestry Commission's rapid response team arrested 23 illegal miners in the Oda River Forest Reserve, where they destroyed 43 mining camps. In a revealing testament to the socio-economic impact of regional instability, 18 of the suspects claimed they were displaced from Bawku due to ongoing conflict and turned to 'galamsey' for survival. In the judicial sphere, a complex domestic abuse case in the Ashanti Region has sparked debate after Priscilla Sackey, a pregnant woman, appealed for the release of her husband, Eric Agyei. Agyei was sentenced to six years in prison following Sackey's report of abuse, though she now claims she only sought his reform rather than incarceration. Together, these cases underscore the multifaceted challenges facing Ghana’s security and legal frameworks in 2026.