5 ‘Foreigners’ arrested for acquiring Ghana voter ID

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested five suspected Togolese in possession of Ghanaian voter identification cards and attempting to exit the country through an unapproved route.

The five were arrested at the Aflao Sector Command, and have been identified as Dayo Yao, 33; Gatago Kudjo, 32; Quist Mawutor, 26; Desouza Theodor, 29; and Gatogo Kudjovi Lenene.

A statement issued and signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Supt Michael Amoako-Atta, said the suspected foreigners were arrested by officers deployed to patrol the beach at Aflao, and were handed over to the Sector Command’s headquarters for interrogation.

Screening

The statement said an initial screening of the five showed that they had indelible ink on their pinky fingers.

“They also admitted during interrogation that they were Togolese nationals who had registered for the new Ghana voters ID card at one of the registration centres in Aflao.

“However, with the exception of one of them who had in his possession the new Ghana voters ID card with number 2321010939 as well as Togolese voter ID card, the rest had no new voters ID card on them,” the statement said.

It said they had been referred to the port health officials for medical screening and would be handed over to the police after the screening for further action.  

Caution

Meanwhile, the GIS said it was once again reminding all non-Ghanaians to desist from entering and leaving the country through unapproved routes.

It said the act was an offence under the laws of Ghana to use any illegitimate means to enter or exit the country.

“The GIS also wishes to caution all foreign nationals not to get involved in the ongoing voters registration exercise in the country,” it said.

Highlights

On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, officers of the GIS at the Pulimakom Border Post in the Upper East Region said they arrested a Togolese for attempting to acquire a Ghana voter identification card.

On July 3, 2020, a Togolese national was reported to have been arrested at Woriyanga in the Upper East Region for attempting to acquire a voter ID card.

On July 4, 2020, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) arrested 24 Nigerians for allegedly entering the country through unapproved routes.

On July 9, 2020, a special operation team of the Ghana Armed Forces in the North East Region was reported to have arrested a Togolese national, one Duut Laabik, for attempting to register for the new voter ID card at Najong 1 in the Bunkpurugu Constituency.