The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region has apprehended some 38 Burkina Faso nationals who illegally sneaked into Ghana through unapproved routes.
According to the Immigration Service, the migrants were aboard two coaster mini buses and a sprinter vehicle with registration numbers GC-1621-19, AW-749-14 and GS-5675-19, and were in Ghana for visits, education and commercial purposes.
In a release issued today by the Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Assistant Inspector Ibn Yussif Duranah Abdul-Mumin Seidu, it stated “at about 0117HRS, personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service in the Nadowli-Kaleo district apprehended Thirty-Eight Burkina Faso nationals who illegally sneaked into Ghana through unapproved routes ostensibly to proceed to Bono, Kumasi and Sunyani respectively.”
The 38 prohibited migrants comprised of 34 males and 04 females with their ages ranged between 03 and 39, the statement revealed.
”They were screened by the Port Health Personnel at the Hamile Border Post before being handed over to the Burkina Faso authorities on the other side of the border at about 0804HRS.”
The GIS applauded the people of the Upper West Region who collaborate with the border officials in their line of duty, and assured that its personnel will deal with unrepentant individuals who stands their way.
Meanwhile, the PRO, speaking on Info Radio’s Te Zine Yiri Yele, said it was not for nothing that the GIS is combating undocumented migration but to ensure peace and security in the country.
He said security was a shared responsibility and called on border residents to further collaborate with the Service to fight the menace.
Assistant Inspector Ibn Yussif Duranah added that the GIS in the region has engaged in implementing pragmatic measures towards curtailing the unapproved entry of foreign nationals into Ghana.
He cited the establishment of border checkpoints, route checks on main roads and the activation of patrols to keep the phenomenon under check.
He added that massive sensitization of border residents on security and migration related issues have also been done to curtail the menace.
When asked about boarding of vehicles by such migrants, the PRO said drivers could not be blamed for allowing the migrants on board.
He however, warned that the GIS will deal with any driver who, at any point in time, is found complacent of abating irregular migration.