Teenage Prostitutes Grabbed

FIVE TEENAGERS in Cape Coast who were involved in prostitution have found themselves in the grips of the law.

The five, whose names are being held for security reasons, are now at the Central Regional branch of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and will soon be dragged before the Juvenile Court in Cape Coast.

Briefing DAILY GUIDE, the Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, Madam Felicia Ayensu, said the five were arrested together with two boys in a Nissan bus that was from Cape Coast and heading towards Takoradi.

The group was arrested by the police at Atabaadze barrier upon suspicion of engaging in prostitution.

According to Madam Ayensu, they earlier lied that one of them was sick and they were taking her to the parents at Elmina.

She stated that upon further interrogation, they admitted engaging in child prostitution, adding that they had been employed by one Thomas who was their pimp at Kotoka Market; but he had been arrested for stealing, hence the need to relocate to do the business at Takoradi.

According to the teenagers, they were paid GH¢1 every day by Thomas.

Madam Felicia Ayensu emphasised the need for parents to take care of their children, adding that it was very bad for parents to neglect their children to engage in such illegal activities.

The DOVVSU Coordinator expressed concern about the increasing rate of child prostitution in the region and called on parents to invest in their children's education.

She cited an instance where parents did not care about the whereabouts of their children who sometimes abandoned home for more than a week only to resurface with money later.

Madam Ayensu therefore urged parents to question their wards when they start acquiring material things without any sponsorship from the house.

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast