Seventeen commercial sex workers including eleven teenage lactating mothers have been arrested by the Nima Divisional Police.
Also in the grips of the police are nine male patrons including a number of pimps, who attacked the police with stones in a bid to prevent them from carrying through their lawful duty.
Wednesday night’s operation was conducted around the Odaw Railway Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange after weeks of surveillance.
The police said their action followed persistent public outcry and complaint over child prostitution in the area.
Some of the commercial sex workers aged between 15 and 35 years, the police alleged, were caught in the act whilst others were negotiating with their client at the time of their arrest.
The arrested include 11 teenage lactating mothers one of whom was with a three-month-old baby.
Others have babies ranging from six months to seven years.
The lactating mothers told the police in their caution statement, they keep their babies with a nanny for a fee of GH¢5 per night.
According to the sex workers, they normally return to breast feed the baby during the period.
They charge between GH¢20 and GH¢80 per client based on the locale and the facility available to them.
But the police did not find it easy with the operation.
Some of the male clients reportedly resisted and attempted to shield the commercial sex workers from arrest.
They were reportedly joined by the pimps who pelted the police with stones and other missiles.
The police said they have to resort to firing of warning shots in order to subdue them, leading to the arrest of nine of them.
The Nima Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Abraham Acquaye, described the development as unfortunate, adding they will continue to raid the notorious zone to flush the practice out.
Meanwhile, all 26 suspects are being prepared to be put before court on Friday.
They will be charged with unlawful soliciting of sex, obstruction of lawful duty and attack on security officers.
By Peter Quao Adattor|3news.com|Ghana