London, July 20, 2018 (AltAfrica)-Fourteen out of the forty-six police personnel who were repatriated from South Sudan for alleged sexual misconduct have been interdicted by the Ghana Police Service with immediate effect.

The personnel who were on a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan were sent back home for alleged sexual exploitation.

A police internal communication seen by Citi News, a news website based in Ghana has directed that the residences of these interdicted officers be searched and all weapons, uniforms and other police properties be retrieved

Sources told AlternativeAfrica.com in Accra that the police authorities are awaiting further directive for the arrest and prosecution of the affected officers “who have tarnished the name of the country and betrayed the oath of operation”

The investigation into the conduct of the officers began after reports emerged that they were having transactional sex with women living in one of the protection camps with gifts or favours given in exchange for the encounters.

The Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry had earlier said reports of the alleged sexual misconduct left him shocked.

“As the Minister for Interior the allegation hit me hard… It is still under investigation, and we will be the first to bring to book any Ghanaian we find who has breached the rules, and the UN allowing us to investigate the matter independently shows that they believe we are going to contribute constructively to it,” he added.

We’ll cooperate with UN probe – Police

The Police Administration had also promised to work fully with the UN in the investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement released by the Police after the news broke, the Police Administration conveyed “its fullest cooperation and support to investigate the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse case.”

The 14 interdicted police officers are: 

Desupol/Mr. Henry Ntikura Agyemang, Sgt Richard Boahen Amponsah, CPL. Degraft Osei Nyantakyi, CPL.  K. Dodzi Homey, CPL. Kennedy Agyei, CPL. Imoro Dandzumah, CPL. Isaac Frimpong, L/CPL Bismark Eyram Dunyo, L/CPL Douglas Ofori, L/CPL David Asinyo

L/CPL Ibrahim Issaku Musah, L.CPL Kingsley Etse Lotsu