The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), has arrested 19 illegal Nigerian immigrants and a Ghanaian in Ho for illegal entry into the country through unapproved routes at Ghana’s eastern frontiers.
Barely a week ago, the Command intercepted 51 illegal immigrants at its Asikuma inland checkpoint for the same offence.
The Volta Regional Commander of the GIS, Deputy Commissioner Peter Claver Nantuo says the arrest forms part of the Command’s intensified surveillance to stop illegal migration into the country.
The 19 illegal Nigerian immigrants and a Ghanaian were arrested at the Ho Central Market in the early hours of Tuesday upon the Command picking intelligence that they came into the country illegally and were about traveling to Accra.
The Volta Regional Commander of the GIS, Deputy Commissioner Peter Claver Nantuo, in a media briefing stated that there is a syndicate that aids the movement of Nigerians in particularly along the Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire corridor. He said they have changed their route through the eastern corridor road of the country due to the robust security at the Sogakofe Inland checkpoint of the Ghana Immigration Service.
He said though they usually claim they are on transit to Cote d’ Ivoire during interrogation, Ghana is the destination of most of the immigrants given that the country has become a fertile ground for them to perpetuate cyber fraud. Deputy Commissioner Nantuo gave the assurance that the Command will not relent on its efforts to clamp down on illegal migration along the Ghana Togo border especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Deputy Commissioner Nantuo cautioned the illegal immigrants to relay the information to other Nigerians who will like to enter the country illegally saying that they would be prosecuted when caught.
The Command has indicated that it would quarantine the 19 illegal Nigerian immigrants at a facility at Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region whiles it continue with investigations. They will later be deported to their country.
Story by: Elorm Yao Aryee.
