Five immigration officers interdicted for aiding illegal entry

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, has interdicted five Immigration officers serving at the Aflao Sector Command for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of foreigners into the country through unapproved routes.

The officers, whose interdiction took effect last Thursday, July 9, 2020, are Assistant Inspector Isaac Ahiafor Agbenyega; Assistant Inspector Sarah Adubea and Immigration Control Officer (ICO) Juliana Anning.

The rest are ICO Jennifer Owusu Ansah and Recruit Officer (RO) Joyce Nketia.

Intercepted

A statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Supt Michael Amoako-Atta, and issued last Saturday said the foreigners, numbering seven, were intercepted by the command’s patrol team at pillar 4B at Aflao.

It said on interrogation, the foreigners disclosed that they had been aided to enter the country by the Immigration officers, who had collected money ranging from CFA3,000 to CFA5,000 from them.

It said at an identification parade conducted for Immigration officers at the command, the foreigners identified the officers in question.

Offence

The GIS explained that the unprofessional conduct of the officers was a breach of the Immigration Service Regulations and constituted an offence under Section 52(1) (a) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), which states, inter alia, that a person who aids or assisted any person to enter Ghana in contravention of the act commits an offence.

It added that their action was also in breach of the President’s directive on the border closure.

 “Investigation into the matter has commenced in earnest and the five officers will soon appear before the Major Entry Point Disciplinary Committee of the service,” the statement said.