Koforidua, Oct. 4, GNA - The Eastern Regional Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), has arrested nine foreigners for harassing Koforidua residents and commuters for alms. The nine, suspected to have come from Mali and Niger, included an adul= t and eight children.

This was contained in statement from the Eastern Regional Public Affairs Unit of the Ghana Police in Koforidua and signed by Chief Inspector Yaw Nketia-Yeboah, the Regional Public Affairs Officer on Monday.

The statement said based upon public outcry of harassment by these "begging children" the Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Po= lice (ACP) K. Gyamera-Yeboah, instructed the AHTU to investigate. "After monitoring the situation at the Koforidua Central Business Centre during the week, the AHTU effected the arrest of the nine suspects o= n September 29th at the said location" the statement said.

It said the adult among them, Mohammed Alhuseini, aged 31 years, is th= e father of two of the children - Their ages range from seven to 13 years old= ..

"Police investigations revealed that suspect Alhuseini and his two children are from Mali whilst the rest and three others in the group are from Niger".

The statement said Alhuseini had been detained for engaging the children in exploitative labour and depriving them of education or development contrary to section 87 of the Children's Act of 1998. It said a sum of GH?402.00 was found on him during the operation. "The children who were in protective custody of the Eastern Regional Police Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit in Koforidua (DOVVSU) have now been released to their landlord" the statement said.

It said Ali Haruna Kumi, Chief of Koforidua Zongo, who had been housin= g the victims and their parents or guardians was helping the Police AHTU to arrest the rest of the suspects for further investigation.