BY: Akpabli Daniel Yao | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested 51 ECOWAS Nationals, including minors, at the Asikuma Inland Checkpoint.

The suspects were made up of 49 Beninese and 2 Togolese, comprising 15 Females and 36 Males.

According to Mr Felix Klu Adjei, OIC, Public Affairs Volta Region, the immigrants were on board a Hyundai Universe Express with registration number AW9955-19, driven by Mr Osei Asibbey on Wednesday February 3, 2021 at about 1930 HRS.

The Commander at the Checkpoint, Deputy Superintendent (DSI) Philip Essuman noted that, the suspects were intercepted when the vehicle they were traveling with was stopped at the checkpoint and the occupants were subjected to a careful scrutiny.

“They were suspected to have gained entry into the country illegally from neighboring Togo through the unapproved routes”. They noted

However, the suspects’ written statement revealed that they gained entry into the country illegally from Togo with the assistance of some unknown commercial Motor Bike Riders on the Togo side of the border.

The Suspects further claimed they were on transit through Ghana to Abidjan to seek for greener pastures.

All suspects have currently been sent back to Lome, Togo after they were made to go through necessary immigration and basic Covid-19 protocol formalities at the Aflao border respectively.

The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service therefore entreat all citizens and individual drivers who frequently uses the Asikuma and Sogakope Inland Checkpoints, to as matter of  responsibility and obligation to the state, cooperate with current strategic security arrangements; which is aimed at tracking illegal immigrants at the said locations.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com