COVID-19 Busted: 1107 illegal foreign nationals from Togo, Nigeria Et al Repatriated
1107 illegal foreigners who entered Ghana during Covid-19 border closure arrested in Bono. Togolese, 521; Burkinabes, 246; Ivorians, 224; Nigeriens, 34; Nigerian, 7; Beninese, 5, and 1 Guinean.
Their arrests were effected after they forced their way into Ghana during the closure of the borders on March 18.
The closure of Ghana’s national borders was to safeguard the nation but these foreign nationals from Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria among others disrespected the country’s laws and were arrested in the Bono Region. On May 14, 2020, some 17 like-minded immigrants were arrested by The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
Sadly, they were given assistance by some self-centered Ghanaians through unapproved routes. They often used motorbikes to carry their illegal acts out at odd hours through villages. The main motivation for these Ghanaians is the high fees they charge the desperate illegal immigrants.
At least 22 motorbikes have been seized impounded by officials of the GIS at Nkrankwanta alone from the locals suspected to have been transporting such persons into Ghana.
Information we have gathered via information made available by Charles Yaw Bediako, the Bono Regional Commander is that Ghana has repatriated all the 1,107 illegal migrants to their respective countries.
Checkpoints where these migrants were busted include
Gonokrom and Kofibadukrom – Dormaa Central Municipality
Nkrankwanta in the West District,
Sampa in the Jaman North District,
Atronie, Yawhima and Abesim in the Sunyani Municipality
Tainso in the Tain District, Kato in the Berekum Municipality
Atuna and Kwameseikrom in the Jaman South Municipality.
The Bono Region has recorded one COVID-19 case and if illegal migrants keep finding their way into the region, it could impact the cases. Ghana’s total cases now stand at 5735 with a total recovery of 1754. Death has also risen to 29 with Greater Accra Region, Ghana’s main hotspot recording the highest COVID-19 cases which stand at 4314 followed the Ashanti region with 818 cases.
The current recovery rate which some over 700 recoveries reported in one day has been greeted with mixed feelings. Many have tagged it as a jumbo jump others have doubted the figures as well.