Thirty-one commercial sex workers and two of their male patrons were arrested in a police swoop in Accra on Monday.

One of the commercial sex workers is said to be five-months pregnant.

The operation, which started at 11 p.m, was part of efforts by the Cantonments Police to rid the streets of Accra of prostitutes.

Those arrested were aged 18 to 40.

A number of them fled when they saw the police approaching, while others rained insults on the police for attempting to arrest them.

Areas

The commercial sex workers were arrested while they were busily soliciting patronage near the Danquah Circle, the Togolese Embassy, the Italian Embassy and their environs.

Briefing journalists on Monday, the Cantonments Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Iddi Seidu, said the exercise was executed as a result of the numerous complaints received from diplomats and other residents of the area.

“The complaints received about the activities of these prostitutes indicate that the commercial sex workers make a lot of noise at midnight,” he said.

The Cantonments Police Commander said some of the residents also claimed that they were usually harassed by the prostitutes in the evenings when they were returning home from work.

In all, 30 policemen, including three senior officers, were involved in the operation.

He said the police had interrogated the suspects and taken their statements.

“They have all been charged with soliciting for immoral purpose and will be put before court,” he said.