Ghana repatriates 23 illegal foreigners

A joint team of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Ghana Armed Forces in the North East Region has stopped 23 foreigners from entering Ghana illegally.

The foreigners — 15 Togolese and eight Burkinabes — who tried to use unapproved routes to enter the country, have been repatriated to their respective countries.

The operation by the joint security team formed part of ongoing stringent efforts to enforce the border closure directive by the government to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

Briefing journalists, the acting North East Regional Commander of the GIS, Chief Superintendent William Peter Andoh, said the foreigners who entered the country through an unapproved route were arrested after officers deployed at Nakpanduri intercepted a Yuntong bus, with registration number AW 400-19, last Tuesday, May 5.

Police intelligence

He explained that the command received intelligence from border guards at the Missiga Inland Post in the Upper East Region that some foreigners were sneaking into the country through an unapproved route that linked to Nakpanduri,  en route to Kumasi and Accra.

GIS officials at the Bunkpurugu Command swiftly mounted a checkpoint at the targeted unapproved route, which led to the arrest of the foreigners, he said.

The bus was found to be carrying 23 foreigners, made up of 15 Togolese and eight Burkinabes.

Repatriation

Chief Supt Andoh said during interrogations, the foreigners claimed they were farm labourers who were travelling to Kumasi and its environs in search of jobs.

He indicated that they were cautioned and repatriated to their countries, while some Ghanaians who were on the bus were allowed to continue their journey. 

Background

The GIS has said that with the closure of Ghana’s 48 approved borders, many travellers from neighbouring countries have tried to enter the country illegally, with the help of residents of border communities.

The borders have remained closed since March 23 as part of the measures to stop the importation of COVID-19.

The GIS has warned to deal ruthlessly with those who enter illegally and residents of border towns who help such foreigners to come to Ghana.