U/W: Immigration officers arrest five Burkinabes using unapproved routes to enter Ghana
Five Burkinabes have been arrested by Immigration personnel after they attempted to enter Ghana illegally via unapproved routes near Hamile in the Upper West Region.
So far 200 Burkinabes have been arrested and repatriated on the Ghana-Burkina Faso border in the Upper West Region since the closure of Ghana’s borders.
Speaking to Accra based Citi FM and monitored by saltfmonline.com, the Public Relations Officer for Upper West Regional division of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ibn Yussif Duranah said the suspects have been screened and repatriated this morning.
“They were coming from Burkina Faso to Ghana and their intent was to enter Ghana illegally to proceed to Sunyani for farming activities. It was done through an unapproved route around the Hamile border. The five persons arrested yesternight comprised of four males and a female with the age range of three to 29 years. We have two kids among the males. Having arrested them yesternight, we could not have invoked the protocol of repatriation so we had to keep them at the Hamile Sector Command. Then this morning, the port health was called upon to screen them on their health status before they were repatriated. So they’ve since been handed over to the Burkina Faso authorities,” he indicated.
Border Closure since COVID-19 outbreak
President Akufo-Addo on March 22 this year announced the closure of Ghana’s borders. The closure of the borders was to prevent further importation of COVID-19 cases into the country. Cargo, goods and suppliers are however allowed into the country from other countries.
The move is part of efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country, yet some foreigners continue to illegally find their way into the country.
Since the border closure, many foreign nationals have been arrested in different parts of the country using unapproved routes to enter the country.
Most of these people, after investigations and tests, are noted to be carriers of COVID-19.
