By Eugene Nyarko Jnr. l CID Headquarters, Accra l May 12, 2026
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three persons in connection with child sexual exploitation offences following a joint international operation involving the Australian Federal Police and INTERPOL.
Addressing a press briefing at the CID Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the suspects were arrested for the taking, production, publication and processing of indecent images, photographs and videos involving children, contrary to Section 62(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) of the Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038).
She disclosed that the operation led to the rescue of four child victims aged between six and 13 years in the Ashanti and Bono regions.
According to COP Donkor, INTERPOL Accra received intelligence in January 2026 from INTERPOL Canberra and the Crimes Against Children Unit of the INTERPOL General Secretariat regarding a child sexual exploitation case linked to Ghana.
The intelligence, shared by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation’s Victim Identification Team, indicated that an Australian offender currently standing trial in Australia had received child sexual exploitation material from facilitators based in Ghana.
Investigations further revealed that the offender transferred money to the Ghana-based facilitators in exchange for explicit materials involving child victims located in Ghana.
Following the intelligence, Australian authorities requested the Ghana Police Service to assist in rescuing the victims and apprehending the suspects.
COP Donkor stated that investigations conducted by officers from INTERPOL Accra and the Child Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Unit led to the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of two victims in the Ashanti Region.
She said a subsequent operation in the Bono Region resulted in the arrest of another suspect and the rescue of two additional victims aged six and seven years.
“All three suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations, while the victims are receiving care and support from DOVVSU in the respective regions,” she said.
She added that Abuse Relief Corps, a non-governmental organisation, was supporting the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit with counselling and welfare services for the victims.
The CID Director-General expressed concern over the growing trend of child sexual exploitation, noting that the crime was becoming increasingly prevalent because it was relatively easy to commit, difficult to detect and financially rewarding.
She revealed that some of the suspects in the ongoing investigation were close relatives of the victims, including an older brother and a mother who were legally responsible for the care and protection of the children.
COP Donkor cautioned the public that the Ghana Police Service was intensifying collaboration with international partners and stakeholders to combat child sexual exploitation and cyber-enabled abuse.
She also announced that the Police Service would soon roll out a nationwide sensitisation programme and establish additional cybercrime and child protection units across the regions to strengthen efforts against such crimes.
The Police Administration reminded the public that child sexual abuse offences under Ghanaian law attract penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 5,000 penalty units, or both.
