Police called to deal with commercial sex workers

The Manager of Silver House, a popular drinking spot in Sunyani, Mr. Emmanuel Amoako, has bemoaned the increasing practice of prostitution around the spot and called on the police deal with the perpetrators.

Mr. Amoako told Space FM’s Nana Ama Annor in Sunyani that for close to four years, residents in Sunyani have been complaining that most of the women who patronize the drinking spot are prostitutes. He said initially, he took it as one the usual rumours without substantiation.

But investigations he conducted with his staff confirmed that indeed most of the ladies who frequent Silver House do so not for the drinks, but to offer themselves to men for money, a phenomenon popularly referred to in local palace as ashawo.

According to the Silver House manager, the recent national delegates congress of the ruling NDC further confirmed the practice of prostitution around the area the spot is located. Before the congress, the media reported that commercial sex workers had invaded Sunyani and the Silver House was the main joint for the “ladies of the night”.

He said during the said congress, most men who trooped to the spot did so with the intention of grabbing one of the commercial sex workers who were readily available. The modus operandi of the ladies is that they go to the spot, dressed half naked, hang around or buy a drink while waiting for prospective clients.

Mr. Amoako said it was against that backdrop that he has liaised with the Ghana Police Service to occasionally swoop on the ladies who visit the spot and identify the commercial sex workers among them and deal with them as the law allows.

“I have personally informed the police about the situation and they have given the assurance that they would patrol the area to arrest those engaging in the practice”, he said.

In his reaction, the station officer of Sunyani Police Station, Inspector Paul Kwadwo Kyeremeh, told Space FM that the manager of Silver House had reported the practice of prostitution in the area and that the police have started monitoring women who patronize the spot and would arrest any suspected commercial sex worker.

He added that it is an offence under the laws of Ghana to practice prostitution and urged residents around the silver house to volunteer information to the police to enable them deal with the menace.

“I appeal to residents around silver house to inform the police of people they suspect to be commercial sex workers to enable us deal with them”, he said.

Inspector Kyeremeh said the police patrol team stormed the spot last week and would continue doing so to rid the place of prostitutes.

“The police patrol team stormed the Sliver House to ensure sanity prevailed and we would continue to monitor ladies who patronize the spot and flush out those engaging in prostitution”, he said.

Source: Nana Ama Annor, Space FM, Sunyani