The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has directed the Comptroller-General of the Immigration Service to investigate an incident of rough handling of a woman who was said to be in the Immigration Service's custody, awaiting deportation.
The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, showing personnel who were said to be immigration service personnel manhandling the woman, said to be a West African national.
The minister said a report from the Comptroller-General is expected within the week.
The incident is said to have taken place at the VICSEM Hotel at Ogbojo in Accra.
The minister spoke in a radio interview with Joy FM on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Mr Muntaka said early information available to his office suggests the woman was meant to be on medication but had not taken it, which he believes may have contributed to her conduct before the officers intervened.
“I’ve instructed the Comptroller-General of Immigration to investigate that and get me a report, which I’m sure I should receive this week,” he said.
The video, which circulated widely last week, drew strong public reaction over the treatment of individuals brought to Ghana under a third safe country arrangement with the United States.
Mr Muntaka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, said he would wait for the full investigation report before drawing conclusions. He added that Ghana remains committed to treating all West Africans with dignity.
“I can assure you that we believe we are brothers and sisters. Our brothers and sisters from the West African countries will be treated with the utmost respect,” he said.
He disclosed that almost all the people transferred to Ghana under the arrangement have already left the country. “As far as I’m concerned, almost everybody is gone. We have only three in some facilities who are still here,” he said.
According to Mr Muntaka, those who remain have two options: they may seek support from their embassies to stay in Ghana or request assistance to return to their home countries.
“We will do everything possible to treat them well, just as we treat our own citizens. There is no connivance or government involvement in trying to molest anybody brought in from the United States of America,” he said.
The minister added that the Interior Ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various diplomatic missions in Accra to uphold the rights of all West African nationals brought into the country.
“We continue to work with the Foreign Ministry and the various missions in Accra to make sure that every citizen from West Africa who is brought into our country is treated with respect,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also noted that individuals without criminal records who wish to remain in Ghana may do so once their embassies confirm and support their stay.
