The Sekondi Magistrate Court 'B' in the Western Region, last Friday imposed a total fine of GH¢24,000 on 24 persons for engaging in commercial sex and immigration offences.
The accused, all foreigners, were convicted on their own plea and were each sentenced to a fine of GH¢1,000 and in default served six months prison term.
They were charged with illegal entry and illegal stay when they appeared before the court presided over by Ms Araba Nunoo.
Eight of them have redeemed their fines, giving way to administrative processes leading to their deportation back to their home country.
A statement signed by Public Affairs Officer of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Western Region, Assistant Inspector Moses Manfred Akakpo, copied to the Ghanaian Times yesterday, stated.
It said, the other 16 convicted sex workers begun serving their sentence at the Sekondi Central Prison.
The prosecution team, led by the Western Regional Legal Officer of the GIS, Chief Superintendent Samuel Bilson, secured a deportation order for all the 24 convicts, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the GIS indicated that it was in the process of repatriating two persons, who were identified during investigations as having been trafficked, back to their home country to be united with their families.
Additionally, two nursing mothers, together with the three main suspects, Mr and Mrs Okereke, all Nigerians and a Ghanaian, Mr Kofi Bekoe, have been granted enquiry bail to enable the GIS conclude its investigations on them.
The statement recalled that the Western Regional Command of the GIS on Saturday, October 14, 2023, arrested 31 ECOWAS nationals suspected to be involved in commercial sex and immigration offences within the Ellembelle District and Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.
After investigations, the 24 convicts were arraigned before the court.
"The Western Regional Command of the Service would like to express its gratitude to all stakeholders, especially those who continue to volunteer credible information leading to such arrests and successful prosecutions. The command continues to admonish all to bear in mind that security is and will always be shared responsibility," the statement said.
