Foreign Affairs MinisterSamuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that the Ghanaian government is not responsible for the travel expenses of Ghanaians facing deportation from the United States.
Speaking in Parliament while responding to questions about his ministry, on Thursday March 13, the North Tongu MP explained that the U.S. government is covering all travel costs for deportees. He emphasized that Ghana’s only responsibility is to facilitate their return by issuing the necessary travel certificates.
“There’s another issue I must quickly speak to which has to do with the tickets with the returnees. Let place on record that the USA authorities are bearing the cost. They are paying the ticket fares for the deportation of our nationals and all of these deportations they are doing they are taking acre of the cost. We are only to facilitate by providing the travel certificate and making sure that as receiving country we are ready to receive them when they arrive but we are not paying for the tickets , the US authorities are handling that” he said.
His comments come amid the U.S. government’s intensified immigration enforcement, which has led to the mass deportation of undocumented migrants.
He further went on to assured Ghanaians that the individuals being deported from the United States are not criminals but rather hardworking people who failed to regularize their immigration status.
Providing details in Parliament, the North Tongu MP stated, “And in terms of the profile, so far I can confirm that so far the profiling we have done these are indeed Ghanaians but they are Ghanaians who did not commit any crime, or are hardedned criminals, they are decent people who were in such of greener pastures and didn’t regularise their stay….They are very harmless so there shouldn’t be concern in Ghana that when we accept theese people they may attack or undermine the safety of our nationals
Ablakwa urged Ghanaians to support these deportees who are facing this setback following their quest to seek greenr pastures. “…they need is our empathy and our care and show them compassion” he added.
Mr. Ablakwa also revealed that the affected individuals are scheduled to depart the U.S. on March 19, March 28, and April 1.
“None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. 50 out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed” he continued.
The ongoing deportations are part of an intensified immigration enforcement effort by U.S. authorities, which began on January 26. The crackdown, led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, has so far resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests, focusing on individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.
The Ghanaian government has pledged to continue monitoring the situation and providing necessary support to affected nationals.
Three Ghanaians in the United States are set to be deported on commercial flights later this month and in early April, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Briefing Parliament on the latest developments, Mr. Ablakwa revealed that the affected individuals are scheduled to depart the U.S. on March 19, March 28, and April 1.
“None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. 50 out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed,” he stated.
He further disclosed that one Ghanaian was granted release on medical grounds following discussions with U.S. authorities. Additionally, ten others have been interviewed by Ghana’s Embassy to verify their nationality and ensure they received fair legal representation before their removal. Their deportation now depends on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security securing flight tickets.
Last month, concerns arose over mass deportations of Ghanaians from the United States, with reports suggesting that over 6,000 could be affected. Addressing these claims, Mr. Ablakwa provided clarification during his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee in February.
“There have been reports suggesting that about 6,200 Ghanaians will be affected by the mass deportation from the United States. However, based on the official brief I have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actual number currently communicated to us from Washington, D.C., stands at 156, not 6,200,” he clarified.
The Minister assured Parliament that the government remains committed to ensuring the humane treatment of deportees and continues to engage with U.S. officials through Ghana’s consulate.
“We will not leave them to struggle on their own. The government of Ghana and its people care about their plight, and we are doing our best to extend consular assistance to them,” he added.
The ongoing deportations are part of an intensified immigration enforcement effort by U.S. authorities, which began on January 26. The crackdown, led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, has so far resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests, focusing on individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.
The Ghanaian government has pledged to continue monitoring the situation and providing necessary support to affected nationals.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that out of 150 Ghanaians previously detained across various U.S. immigration centers, 100 have had their cases either dismissed or are currently under appeal.
Briefing Parliament on Thursday, March 13, Mr. Ablakwa clarified that 50 of the affected individuals have received final deportation orders and are set to be repatriated by mid-year.
“None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. 50 out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed,” he stated.
The minister further revealed that the government had successfully intervened in the case of a Ghanaian detainee who was released on medical grounds to seek treatment.
Additionally, three Ghanaians have completed processing and are scheduled to return home on commercial flights on March 19, March 28, and April 1, respectively. Meanwhile, ten others have undergone interviews with the Ghanaian Embassy to confirm their nationality and ensure they receive due process before deportation. Their return is now pending ticket arrangements by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The latest update follows earlier concerns about mass deportations of Ghanaians from the United States. Last month, reports suggested that as many as 156 Ghanaians were facing imminent removal due to stricter immigration enforcement policies.
During his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee in February, Mr. Ablakwa addressed these concerns, stating:
“There have been reports suggesting that about 6,200 Ghanaians will be affected by the mass deportation from the United States. However, based on the official brief I have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actual number currently communicated to us from Washington, D.C., stands at 156, not 6,200.”
He assured Parliament that the government, through Ghana’s consulate in the U.S., is closely coordinating with American authorities to oversee a smooth deportation process and provide necessary consular assistance.
“We will not leave them to struggle on their own. The government of Ghana and its people care about their plight, and we are doing our best to extend consular assistance to them,” he added.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified deportation efforts following an immigration crackdown initiated on January 26. The operation, involving multiple federal agencies, has led to nearly 1,000 arrests so far, targeting individuals deemed threats to public safety and national security.
The Ghanaian government remains actively engaged with U.S. authorities to monitor the situation and ensure the well-being of its citizens affected by these deportations.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that 50 Ghanaians currently facing deportation from the United States are expected to be deported by mid-2025.
Updating Parliament on the situation, he revealed that a total of 150 Ghanaians have been implicated in immigration-related offenses, including illegal entry, internet fraud, and rape.
“None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. Fifty out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed,” he stated.
He further noted that the Ghanaian government had successfully intervened in one case involving an individual in need of urgent medical care, leading to their release.
Additionally, three Ghanaians have been processed and are set to return on commercial flights on March 19, March 28, and April 1, respectively.
Ten more individuals have undergone verification interviews at Ghana’s Embassy to confirm their nationality and ensure they received due process. They are now waiting for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to finalize their travel arrangements before deportation is executed.
Earlier reports suggested that about 156 Ghanaians were at risk of deportation due to heightened immigration enforcement. However, in a previous engagement with Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Mr. Ablakwa dismissed exaggerated figures, clarifying that the official number communicated from Washington, D.C., was 156, not 6,200 as had been speculated.
“There have been reports suggesting that about 6,200 Ghanaians will be affected by the mass deportation from the United States. However, based on the official brief I have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actual number currently communicated to us from Washington, D.C., stands at 156, not 6,200,” he clarified.
The Foreign Minister assured Parliament that the government, through its consulate in the U.S., is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to offer necessary consular support to affected individuals.
“We will not leave them to struggle on their own. The government of Ghana and its people care about their plight, and we are doing our best to extend consular assistance to them,” Mr. Ablakwa assured.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues its nationwide immigration enforcement operation, launched on January 26. The operation, spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has led to the arrest of nearly 1,000 individuals, with authorities prioritizing cases deemed threats to public safety and national security.
The Ghanaian government remains in dialogue with U.S. officials to monitor developments and safeguard the rights of its citizens throughout the deportation process.
Update from Washington Mission indicates that there are currently 150 Ghanaians in detention across various centres in the United States of America (USA) who are awaiting deportation.
Briefing Parliament today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that these compatriots have been accused of unlawful activities such as rape, internet fraud, and illegal entry.
“None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. 50 out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed,” he said.
He added that representations have been made to US authorities on behalf of one Ghanaian on the ground of ill health, and he has been released to seek medical care.
Three Ghanaians have also been processed and are scheduled to depart from the US on commercial flights on the 19th of March, 28th, and 1st of April, respectively.
Ten Ghanaians have also been interviewed by the Embassy to verify their nationality and ensure that they have received a fair hearing. They are now awaiting the Department of Homeland Security to purchase their flight ticket before their deportation can be issued.
A month ago, it was reported that approximately 156 Ghanaians are facing imminent deportation from the United States following an executive order by former U.S. President Donald Trump to deport illegal immigrants.
This was revealed by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in February during his interaction with Parliament’s Appointments Committee. He emphasized that the government is closely monitoring the situation to safeguard the rights of the affected individuals.
“There have been reports suggesting that about 6,200 Ghanaians will be affected by the mass deportation from the United States. However, based on the official brief I have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actual number currently communicated to us from Washington, D.C., stands at 156, not 6,200,” he clarified.
Mr Ablakwa further noted that the government is working in collaboration with Ghana’s consulate in the U.S. to facilitate the deportation process and ensure its smooth execution. He reassured the affected individuals of the government’s commitment to providing them with the necessary support.
“We will not leave them to struggle on their own. The government of Ghana and its people care about their plight, and we are doing our best to extend consular assistance to them,” he assured.
Meanwhile, on January 26, President Trump initiated a comprehensive immigration enforcement operation, enlisting multiple federal agencies. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this operation has already resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 individuals.
As part of a broader strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement, ICE agents, supported by officials from various Justice Department agencies, have been targeting individuals classified as threats to public safety and national security. The operation is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The Ghanaian government remains engaged with U.S. authorities to monitor developments and ensure the well-being of its citizens affected by the ongoing deportations.
US Deportations: The Foreign Minister reveals that 150 Ghanaians are currently detained in various centers across the U.S., awaiting deportation.#JoyNewspic.twitter.com/099NhL3rHl
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been summoned to appear before Parliament on Friday, February 28, 2025, to address growing concerns over the deportation of Ghanaians from the United States of America.
The summons follows an appeal from Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, who raised concerns about reports of mistreatment faced by Ghanaians in US detention centres.
“What is most distressing about these deportations is not only the scale but the inhumane treatment our citizens endure at US detention centres before their forced removal,” Fordjour said during a parliamentary session on Friday, February 21.
He also called for the government to establish “structured reintegration programmes, including job placement initiatives,” highlighting that many deportees have spent most of their lives in the US and may face difficulties reintegrating into Ghanaian society.
Prior to the summon, Mr Ablakwa has pledged to establish a Consular Fund to support Ghanaians abroad, particularly those at risk of deportation.
“Ghana’s foreign missions currently lack a designated budget for interventions of this nature, making it urgent to establish a dedicated fund for consular services,” Ablakwa stated.
The issue has become more pressing amid intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration. Recent reports indicate that nearly 1,200 individuals were detained in a single day, with almost half having no criminal records. There are also plans by the Trump administration to set up a large detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to house deported migrants.
Parliament is urging the government to provide immediate support for deportees and implement long-term measures to effectively manage migration challenges.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has reported that over the past four years, a total of 12,646 Ghanaians, comprising 8,186 men and 4,459 women have been deported from various countries.
Most of these deportations occurred from countries such as Libya, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Canada.
This update was shared by Assistant Commissioner at the Migration Information Centre for Returnees at Kotoka International Airport, Madam Yaa Oppong Opoku-Agyeman, during a ceremony in Accra marking International Migrants Day.
The event, organized by the SEWA Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Airports Company Limited and other partners, was themed “Safe Migration: Building Bridges, Not Barriers.”
Madam Opoku-Agyeman highlighted that 2022 saw the highest number of deportations, with 3,028 Ghanaians returned, including 1,813 men and 1,215 women.
According to her, in 2021, 2,881 Ghanaians were deported, and in 2020, the figure stood at 1,143.
She added that in 2023, a total of 2,750 deportations were recorded, with 1,889 men and 861 women. As of November 2024, the total stands at 2,843, with 2,269 men and 574 women.
“In 2023, we had 1889 males and 861 females and a total of 2750. And in 2024 up to November, we had 2,269 males and 574 females, making a total of 2,843,” she added.
She emphasized that while migration can significantly benefit Ghana through remittances, knowledge exchange, and personal development, irregular migration often leads to grave consequences.
These include the risk of deportation, exploitation, forced labor, human trafficking, and even loss of life.
“On the contrary, when migration is irregular in the form of stowaway, travelling through the desert, human trafficking, improper documentation, and irregular or overstayed, it could lead to the following, deportation or repatriation, loss of life, sexual exploitation, loss of vital body organs, depression, forced labour, detention, among others,” she added.
Assistant Commissioner at the Migration Information Centre for Returnees at Kotoka International Airport noted that the GIS is committed to assisting Ghanaians in traveling through the proper channels to safeguard their well-being.
Secretary of the SEWA Foundation, Mrs. Selma Enyonam Tsatey, suggested that Ghana could learn from global best practices to create a more structured approach to labor export.
She noted that by establishing proper training and recruitment programs, Ghana could create legitimate migration pathways for its youth.
She also proposed reviewing visa policies and improving the support systems of Ghanaian embassies to ensure the public receives accurate and helpful information.
“By designing and implementing robust training and recruitment programmes, Ghana can create legitimate pathways for our young people,” she said.
A migrant, Bright Opoku Appiah, who recently returned to Ghana, called on the government to cultivate an environment that encourages responsible migration, ensuring that Ghanaians abroad contribute positively to the country’s economic development.
In a major escalation of its immigration enforcement, the United Kingdom forcibly deported 44 Ghanaians and Nigerians to their home countries on October 18, 2024, according to the UK Home Office.
This action is part of a broader campaign to tighten immigration controls, following the Labour Party’s rise to power in July.
A report by The Guardian confirmed that the deportees were flown out on a single flight, marking a significant increase compared to previous deportation flights to these two West African nations. Data obtained under freedom of information rules revealed that prior deportations had far fewer people on board, with flights since 2020 carrying as few as six and no more than 21 deportees.
This latest flight had over double that number. A Home Office spokesperson cited a “major surge” in enforcement as the rationale behind the mass deportations. The spokesperson added, “We have already begun delivering a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity to remove people with no right to be in the UK and ensure the rules are respected and enforced, with over 3,600 returned in the first two months of the new government.”
Among those deported were long-term asylum seekers and individuals who had lived in the UK for years. One deportee, interviewed by The Guardian, said he had been in the UK for 15 years but had never been involved in criminal activity. Another claimed to be a victim of trafficking, showing physical scars as evidence, but said his claim had been rejected.
Fizza Qureshi, Chief Executive of the Migrants’ Rights Network, described the deportations as “cruel,” citing the speed and secrecy with which the process was carried out. She highlighted the limited access to legal support for those being removed, stating, “The Home Office is playing politics with people’s lives. We have not done anything wrong other than cry for help.”
This deportation is part of a broader trend, with the UK also regularly deporting individuals to countries like Albania, Lithuania, and Romania. However, flights to Ghana and Nigeria remain rare, making this mass removal a significant event in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in the UK.
As the UK government continues to ramp up its deportation efforts, the controversial handling of these cases raises concerns over human rights and the treatment of vulnerable asylum seekers.
Reports emerging suggest that social media influencer and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, widely recognized as Hajia4Reall, risks being deported from the United States of America after pleading guilty to receiving proceeds from a romance scam.
This information is contained in an alleged court document shared by Gossips24Avenue in a YouTube video, where Hajia4Reall officially admitted to being guilty.
Portions of the reported court document which has Hajia4Reall’s signature, read that “the defendant recognizes that, if the defendant is not a citizen of the United States, the defendant’s guilty plea and conviction make it very likely that the defendant’s removal from the United States is presumptively mandatory and that, at a minimum, the defendant is at risk of being removed or suffering other adverse immigration consequences.”
The document indicates that the defendant, Hajia4Reall has “zero criminal history points, thus in accordance, the defendant’s Criminal History Category is I.
The sentencing range was also provided.
It read; “Based upon the calculations set forth above, the defendant’s stipulated Guidelines range is 37 to 46 months’ imprisonment (the “Stipulated Guidelines Range”). In addition, after determining the defendant’s ability to pay, the Court may impose a fine pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2. At Guidelines level 21, the applicable fine range is $15,000 to $150,000″ a portion of the document read.
Montrage has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, which could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison under U.S. laws. Hajia4Reall has agreed to forfeit $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and was arrested abroad and now faces serious consequences for her actions. Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust in the realization that their online romantic connection was fiction, but by also callously stealing their money. This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the U.S., including romance scams.
Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who was, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise.
Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.
MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.
MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds who members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were payments to transport gold to the U.S. from overseas payments to resolve a fake FBI investigation, and payments to assist a fake U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.
In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.
Founder and Chairman of GH. Support Association, Germany, Gee Queue, has noted that about 5,000 to 7,000 Ghanaian immigrants in Germany risk deportation.
On Wednesday, October 25, the German Cabinet passed legislation aimed at facilitating the deportation of unsuccessful asylum-seekers.
Data published by the German Federal Police on Saturday revealed that 21,366 individuals entered Germany illegally in September.
This figure marks the highest monthly count of “unauthorized entries” into the country since February 2016, when 25,650 people arrived following the peak of the “refugee crisis.” This recent trend of rising entry numbers spans seven consecutive months.
According to police data, 92,119 individuals entered Germany illegally between January and September 2023. This puts the country on a trajectory to surpass the 112,000 people who illegally entered in 2016.
In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, October 26, monitored by The Independent Ghana, Gee Queue noted that there are about 60,000 Ghanaians living in Germany, and about 11 percent risk deportation.
Founder and Chairman of GH. Support Association, Germany, Gee Queue
“I think Ghanaians could be 60,000 across the country but might not include those with the German passports because those with the German passports are not considered Ghanaians, but we see them as Ghanaians because on the passport, the place of birth says Obuasi, Accra.”
“We see Germany as a good place to start your life,” he explained as the reason for the significant immigration into the country.
“Those 60,000 are general, and there are those who have stay permits. But those that might be deported run around 5,000 to 7,000,” he added.
This comes at a time when illegal migration, long a topic of hot debate across Europe and within Germany, has continued to put pressure on politicians to come up with an effective migration policy.
As such, the German Cabinet, under Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s leadership, approved a legislative proposal on Wednesday to streamline the deportation process for unsuccessful asylum-seekers, addressing the pressing issue of migration in the political landscape.
This draft legislation, contingent on parliamentary approval, introduces several significant provisions.
It extends the maximum period of pre-deportation detention from 10 days to 28 days, expedites the deportation of individuals associated with criminal organizations, and grants authorities the ability to conduct residential searches to confirm an individual’s identity conclusively.
In some cases, it also eliminates the requirement for advance notice of deportations, per reports from international tabloids.
In Germany, a significant portion of rejected asylum-seekers are granted temporary stays for various reasons, which may include medical conditions, having a child with residency status, or challenges in obtaining proper identification.
Nevertheless, deportations can face obstacles stemming from a variety of factors, some of which are addressed by the newly proposed legislation. These challenges may also involve uncooperative attitudes from the migrants’ home countries. Germany is actively engaged in negotiations with various nations to address this issue while simultaneously promoting legal pathways for immigration.
A Ghanaian lady named Frimpongmaa faced deportation to Ghana from the United States of America after her friend reported her to the authorities.
According to Freda Afriyie, who narrated the deportee’s ordeal on social media, Frimpongmaa had been working in the States using someone else’s Ghanaian documents, and as a result, her salary was being deposited into the account of the person whose papers she was using.
Over time, Frimpongmaa had earned more than US$70,000, but unfortunately, her hard-earned money was locked up with the individual whose identity she had borrowed. Seeking her rightful earnings, Frimpongmaa visited the person’s house to request her money, but the woman claimed to be ill and requested a 2-month period before she could cash out the funds for Frimpongmaa.
As a consequence of these circumstances, Frimpongmaa’s situation came to the attention of the authorities, leading to her deportation back to Ghana.
“My money is with the sister and I told her to let’s go to the bank to withdraw the money for me. She said she doesn’t have time. She was sick, so I should give her 2 months and that the doctor said she should not go out. So the woman said, I’ll use Uber to pick you up to the bank. This led to an argument,” Frimpongmaa told Freda Afriyie.
After the confrontations between Frimpongmaa and the debtor, the latter called her husband and the police, falsely claiming that she was under attack. Consequently, Frimpongmaa was arrested and subjected to an investigation.
As she lacked the necessary documents to prove her legal stay in the USA, she was processed for court.
Eventually, she faced deportation and was sent back to Ghana. Now back in her home country, Frimpongmaa is making a living as a dishwasher in a local chop bar
Jojo Mills-Robertson recognised for his role in ‘Efiewura’ series as Sofo Joe has recounted a scheme executed by someone he regarded as a friend that would have gotten him deported from the United States.
During his initial stay at the US, the Ghanaian actor noted that he did not have in his possession the required documents to make him a legal migrant.
However, he had been saving to ensure he goes through the right process. He decided to have his money saved in his friend’s account (Joe, not his real name) which was later allegedly squandered on his blind side.
“Later when I asked for my money, he kept telling me I shouldn’t worry he will give it to me. Then I told him that he knew I needed the money for some important things but he still told me to be patient.
“One day, he called me that I should come so we go to the bank for my money. With excitement, I sat in the car. When we got to a traffic light, although the red light was on, my friend still crossed on a top speed and I was wondering why,” he said in the local parlance.
A police vehicle then pursued them and finally caught up to them. Before the officer’s arrival, Jojo said “my friend asked me to put my hand on the dashboard because the police there were very disciplined so I obeyed.”
Upon his arrival, the officer is said to have asked why they crossed the red light.
“My friend explained to him that it was a mistake,” he said.
The officer asked for Joe’s driving licence and after a brief investigation, realised the car has no record.
“Don’t we have any illegal thing in our car?” Jojo said the officer then asked. According to him, immediately the question was posed, Joe pointed to him that he is illegal.
“He said ask this gentleman. He does illegal stuff. So, the police said why is he pointing at me when I am not the one driving the car. Then the policeman asked my name and then I mentioned it; then he asked for my documents but I told him I didn’t have; then my friend told him, I’m a criminal, I don’t have papers.”
“But the policeman insisted that even if I don’t have papers, I am not the one driving the car and told my friend that he is not an immigration officer so why did he cross the red light? The policeman added that since you say you’re not involved in illegality and your friend also has no papers, what do we do?” he quizzed.
In the end, he said the policeman gave Joe a citation and asked him not to do that again.
“When we got home, then I told my friend that I want to go and see my nephew in Virginia and he asked me what I was going to do there and I told him I was going to visit him and that was when I never returned again to his house,” he added.
Washington says that it is impossible for citizens to return safely due to the armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Somalia.
According to President Joe Biden’s administration, the humanitarian crisis and armed conflict in the African nation have created a situation that is too dangerous for them to return home, so the United States has temporarily lifted its ban on deporting Somali nationals living in the country.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would be extended for another 18 months.
As a result of the change, the TPS status of about 430 Somali nationals will remain in effect until September 17, 2024, according to the department. Another 2,200 people who have lived in the US continuously since January 11 of this year are also qualified.
“Through the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, the United States will be able to offer safety and protection to Somalis who may not be able to return to their country, due to ongoing conflict and the continuing humanitarian crisis,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement.
Washington grants TPS to nationals of countries where conditions temporarily make it too dangerous for them to return – such as in cases of armed conflict or environmental disasters, including earthquakes and hurricanes.
The US has extended TPS to people from Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Cameroon and Ukraine, among other nations.
In December, a group of legislators from Biden’s Democratic Party urged the administration to extend and re-designate TPS for Somalia because the country is facing “a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by protracted armed conflict”.
“The security situation in Somalia remains extremely fraught, as [the armed group] al-Shabab continues to threaten the stability and safety of Somalia. Violence is rampant, with the highest number of recorded civilian casualties since 2017 according to the UN,” the legislators, who included Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, said in a letter.
The United Nations said in December that, while famine had been narrowly averted in Somalia, the situation remained “catastrophic” amid widespread and severe food insecurity.
A report by UN officials and other experts, released last month, said more than 8 million people face “an unprecedented level of need” after five consecutive failed rainy seasons and “exceptionally high” food prices.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab has intensified its attacks in recent months as it fights government forces.
The al-Qaeda-affiliated group’s fighters were driven out of thecapital Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but they still control parts of Somalia’s countryside.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office in May of last year, had pledged an “all-out war” against the group. Government troops and allied militias have made some battlefield gains against al-Shabab, recapturing territory long held by its fighters.
Last week, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for two car bomb blasts that killed at least 15 people in central Somalia’s Hiraan region.
The British courts’ approval of the deportation of migrants who entered the UK unlawfully to Rwanda has been welcomed by the central African nation’s authorities.
The Rwandan government spokesman Alain Mukuralinda called the ruling a “positive step” towards solving the global migration crisis.
“And it is also a satisfying decision because we can find new solutions. New ways of doing things because today we have always hidden ourselves from international conventions, international law, to keep the status quo, but today we will evolve and implement distinct solutions, such as trying to solve this deadly migration problem.” Alain Mukuralinda, spokesman for the Rwandan government.
After hosting student survivors of the 1994 genocide for nearly three decades, the Hope Hostel is one of the major properties that will be the first home for migrants deported from the United Kingdom in Rwanda.The renovated 50-room facility in Kigali’s Kagugu neighborhood has a new coat of paint, fresh bedding, and new security cameras. This is just one of the ways Rwanda has prepared for this.
“There are Rwandans who study, there are Rwandans who have businesses, there are migrants who study here, we forget. There are refugees who have been living here for 10/15/20 years. And it’s not just 10,000/15,000/20,000, there are over 100,000 refugees. Why not use this experiment to solve this problem. So Rwanda, no matter what people think, is ready to try new ways of doing things and attract that human capital. Why not. ” Mukuralinda says.
Judges in London on Monday ruled that the UK government’s controversial plan was lawful, after a legal challenge by migrants and campaigners.
In July trade unions in the UK held demonstrations in a StopRwanda campaign, to protest the move.
Three weeks have passed since security personnel once again detained Chinese national Aisha Huang at her Ahodwo home in Kumasi.
Aisha was first arrested in May 2017, and was arraigned, as well as charged with undertaking illegal small-scale mining.
The Chinese national who was identified as one of the bigwigs in the illegal mining trade was allegedly “deported” to China without being prosecuted in 2018.
However, Aisha Huang’s return to the country has sparked much debate, with several contradictory accounts as to whether she was deported or not.
Some argue that the decision to first not prosecute her in 2018 is in breach of Ghana’s Mineral and Mining Act, 2006.
The Mineral and Mining Act, 2006 states that a non-Ghanaian who illegally mines or abets illegal mining attracts a large fine and imprisonment of between 20 and 25 years, and shall be deported after serving the sentence.
But in explaining the government’s decision, the then Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, stated that the 1,641 Chinese nationals arrested and repatriated over ‘galamsey’ since 2009 government decided that Aisha
Huang be deported without imprisonment, to maintain a good relationship with China.
At a town hall meeting in the US in April 2019, he said, “We have a very good relationship with China.
Today, the main company that is helping develop the infrastructure system in Ghana is Sinohydro. It is a Chinese company. It is the one that is going to help process our bauxite and provide about two billion dollars to us… So when there are these kinds of arrangements, there are other things behind the scenes.”
“Putting that lady (Aisha Huang) in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your economic problems. It is not going to make you or me happy, that’s not important, the most important thing is that she has been deported out of Ghana.”
President Akufo-Addoaddressing a forum at Princeton University during his visit to the US in 2019, stated emphatically that Aisha Huang’s deportation was a “mistake”.
The two statements by the two government officials suggest that Aisha Huang was deported in 2018.
However, some state officials have made a quick U-turn, proposing that Aisha Huang was repatriated rather than deported as earlier reported.
According to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the galamsey kingpin was repatriated from Ghana in 2018.
He went on to say that a repatriation order was issued to this effect and that Aisha was put on a flight and exited Ghana.
The President, who has been championing Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, is now claiming that he is in doubt about whether Aisha Huang was deported from Ghana in 2018 or not.
“I’m not still sure whether she was in fact deported. Or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it,” he said while speaking on a Ho-based radio station, as part of his tour of the Volta Region on Monday, September 12, 2022.
According to the prosecutors in the galamsey case against the kingpin, Aisha Huang sneaked out of the country in 2017 to avoid prosecution.
Nevertheless, a report by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) issued a notice of revocation of permit and repatriation dated December 19, 2018, addressed to En Huang, the name used by Aisha Huang.
The notice was signed by the Comptroller-General, Kwame Asuah Takyi.
There is also a boarding pass in the name of En Huang on Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. ET 920 from Accra to Addis Ababa, dated December 19, 2018.
She was reportedly placed at seat no. 32F and used gate C7 to board and flew economy.
First and foremost, what is repatriation and deportation? Deportation is the involuntary return of a person to their home country, usually due to a violation of the law, illegal entry, or overstaying of their visa.
On the other hand, repatriation is the process of bringing or sending someone back to their home country in a desirable situation, typically a prisoner of war, refugee, or hostage.
Unlike deportation, repatriation is voluntary.
It is, therefore, surprising to say that Aisha Huang, who was charged with three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, Government makes a U-turn on Aisha Huang’s deportation 2006 (Act 703); providing mining support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the illegal employment of foreign nationals, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), was rather repatriated and not deported.
The Ghanaian people have questioned the government’s commitment and competence in combating illegal mining in the country as a result of contradictory statements by state officials.
So far, the charges levelled against her exclude that of an immigrant breaching the country’s laws on deportation/repatriation.
Per the Immigration Act, 2000 section 35; a person who enters Ghana when a deportation order made against him or her is in force commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and may be deported without any further deportation order being made.
Also, in section 8 of the Immigration Act, an immigration officer may arrest a prohibited immigrant without a warrant and effect his repatriation or arraign him before a court for an offence under subsection (2).
A person who fails to comply with a directive given under subsection (5) to remove a prohibited immigrant commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million cedis or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding twelve months, or to both.
Charges against Aisha Huang after her second arrest Aisha Huang was charged with: undertaking small-scale mining,operations contrary to the Minerals Act, providing mining support without service without valid registration, illegal employment of foreign nationals, mining without a licence, engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a valid licence.
Aisha Huang, according to reports, is likely to spend two years in prison if proven guilty of the said offences.
Chinese national and galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang‘s re-arrest after her deportation in December 2018 has dominated the news headlines for obvious reasons.
How she re-entered the country without detection till her recent arrest has been the major question on the minds of many Ghanaians.
According to new details that have emerged, Huang opted to use Ghana’s eastern land border to enter the country when she decided to return to continue her trade.
According to a report by Accra-based Citi FM, Aisha Huang returned to Ghana through the Togo border in January this year and upon her arrival acquired a Ghana card in February 2022 with a new name, Huang En.
The report added that sources confirmed that she always sneaked out of Ghana when she got intelligence about the possibility of an arrest.
Despite coming in through Afloa, Aisha made the Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi her base from where she engaged in the business of selling mining materials. She was arrested with other accomplices at Ahodwo in Kumasi.
On Monday, September 5, 2022, the Accra Circuit Court 9 presided by Samuel Bright Acquah, remanded Aisha Huang, into custody.
This was after Miss Huang, together with three other Chinese nationals, were brought before the court on charges including engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a license and mining without a license.
The court could not take into record the pleas of the four suspects because there was no interpreter to help translate proceedings for the Chinese nationals.
The accused persons were not represented by a lawyer.
Based on the circumstance, the lead prosecutor, Chief Inspector Detective Frederick Sarpong, prayed to the court for an adjournment.
The court adjourned sitting on the case to Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
Aisha Huang arrested in deported from Ghana in 2018
Ms. Huang, who was described as “untouchable” on some media platforms, was in 2017 charged with undertaking small-scale mining operations contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
She was also charged with providing mine support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to Section 59 and 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act; and also charged with illegal employment of foreign nationals (in breach of section 24 of the Immigration Act and regulation 18 of the Immigration Regulations).
Her deportation meant the state discontinued the trial against her.
Dear Mirror Lawyer, what is deportation? Is it possible for a Ghanaian be deported from his own country?
George Sampson, Tema
Dear George, Deportation is the removal of a foreign national to his or her country of citizenship or permanent residency for reasons such as illegal entry, serious criminal behaviour, overstaying the permissible entry visa duration, breach of the conditions of the visa, potential threat to the public welfare or otherwise for other reasons lost their legal status to remain in the country.
In Ghana, the law governing deportation is the Immigration Act, 2000 Act 573. Section 35 provides that a foreign national is liable for deportation if:
(a) A Court recommendation for the deportation of the foreign national is effective after conviction for an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding three months with or without a fine and on an appeal against the conviction, the Appellate Court has upheld the recommendation; or an appeal has not been brought within the time allowed for appeal but the recommendation was made by the High Court, or an inferior court and has been approved by the Chief Justice and a report made in writing to the Minister, or
(b) The foreign national has been found by a Court to be destitute or without means of support, or to be of unsound mind or mentally handicapped, or is a prohibited immigrant, or is in Ghana without a valid permit, or any of the conditions on which the permit was granted has been broken, or
(c) The presence in Ghana of the foreign national is in the opinion of the Minister not conducive to the public good. An order deporting a person liable for deportation is made by the Minister of Interior by executive instrument, and may be made subject to such conditions imposed by the Minister including deporting the dependents of the person liable to be deported.
Once the deportation order is made, a person to be deported shall leave Ghana in accordance with the requirements of the deportation order and shall so long as the deportation order is in force remain out of Ghana.
In the case of Balogun v. Minister of Interior [1959] GLR 452, four men issued a writ as co-plaintiffs against the Minister of the Interior on March 16, 1959, claiming declarations that the Deportation Orders made against them were null and void on the ground that each plaintiff respectively was a citizen of Ghana.
The first plaintiff claimed that he was born in Ghana, and that his mother was also born in Ghana. The second plaintiff claimed that he was born in Ejisu in Ashanti, and that his mother was a native of Kintampo in Brong Ahafo. The third plaintiff claimed that he was born in Ghana, and that his mother Ayishetu was a native of Gambaga.
The fourth plaintiff claimed that he was born in Ghana and that his father, Mallam Imoru, was also born in Ghana. Ollennu J (as he then was) found that it is not denied by the Ministry that by virtue of the places where the plaintiffs and their parents and grand-parents were born as proved, the plaintiffs were citizens of the United Kingdom and the colonies or British protected persons immediately before the commencement of the Ghana Nationality and Citizenship Act, and must by virtue of section four sub-section (1) of that Act each be a citizen of Ghana.
There is the further evidence in respect of three of the plaintiffs that at the time of their deportation they were registered in Ghana as voters entitled to elect members to Municipal Councils and to
Parliament, and that in the case of the first plaintiff he had stood as a candidate for election to the Accra Municipal Council immediately before his deportation.
On the basis of those findings, Ollennu J held that the uncontroverted evidence on the record leads to the irresistible conclusion that each of the four plaintiffs is a citizen of Ghana, and that the deportation of each of them is prohibited by section three sub-section (1) of the Deportation Act (No. 14 of 1957), which provides, “No citizen of Ghana shall be liable to deportation under this Act.”. He further declared the deportation orders L.N. 333, L.N. 336, L.N. 338 and L.N. 339 made on October 17, 1958 respectively against the four plaintiffs null and void.
The law is clear that it is only a foreign national who is subject to a deportation order. Foreign national is defined in the law to be a person who is not a citizen of Ghana. It follows that a citizen of Ghana cannot be deported from his own country.
A citizen can only be exiled from his own country based on an applicable law. Currently we do not have any law that permits a Ghanaian citizen to be exiled from the country. A citizen can, however, opt to go into self-imposed exile.
Source: Graphic
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
The Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Andreas Korjo Mifetu, the Ada District Police Commander, has called on the public to report illegal activities by strangers and migrants to the police.
This, he said, would help to curb the menace of criminal activities in the country.
He was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the Ada Police Command arrested nine illegal Nigerian migrants at Ada Foah Clinic Junction on Sunday, April 17, 2021.
He said the police gathered intelligence that a boat was ferrying some Nigerians who were believed to be jailbreakers who got their way into Ghana through illegal means from Anyanui in the Volta Region to Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region.
“We set in motion our operational strategy and around 1030 hours, we intercepted a Sprinter Bus with registration number ER 1657-14 carrying nine Nigerians, including a female.
He said they would be charged for unlawful entry into Ghana because interrogations proved that they were in Ghana for the first time. After all, they had only personal belongings, including money and passports on them.
DSP A.K Mifetu, therefore, urged the people of Ada to be on alert along the coasts of Ada since it was a possible gateway for illegal migrants, criminals, and terrorists.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) post at Zebila in the Upper East Region yesterday deported 36 Togolese after being arrested for using unapproved routes to enter the country.
Their arrests followed intensified patrols by immigration officials in the wake of the closure of the borders by the President.
The deportees were arrested when they used the Poulimakon and Widana frontier, an unapproved route to enter Ghana.
The unlucky persons intended eventually showing up at Bawku from where they would board a vehicle for their Accra-bound trip.
The closure of the frontiers has led to many Burkinabe and Togolese using the unapproved routes to outwit Ghanaian immigration officers.
Personnel of the various security agencies and volunteer groups in the Ho West District, last Friday arrested and deported 27 Togolese who entered the district through unapproved routes after the closure of the frontiers.
This was after their bus was intercepted at the border town of Honuta, and their arrest followed a tip-off from informants at the Togo side of the border.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Victor Ernest Apau said the travelers got access into Ghana through the border along the communities of Kpedze, Luvudo, Holuta and Aflakpe.
Mr Apau said that following the closure of the border, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the assembly formed volunteer groups to monitor the border communities to ensure compliance with the directive.
He said that there was better collaboration between the Ghanaian security agencies and their Togolese counterparts, especially at the Klor border post in Togo.
“That collaboration is helping to enforce the closure of the border effectively,†the DCE affirmed.
Mr Apau said that several scores of people who attempted to enter the country through the approved routes after the closure of the border were refused entry.
He warned that any unpatriotic citizen who attempted to assist travelers to enter the country in violation of the closure of the border for monetary gains would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the DCE and the members of the District Border Security Committee have held a diplomatic meeting with their Togolese counterparts to discuss matters of security concerns on both sides of the borders.
Four prominent chiefs from Kloto and Dayi in Togo were present at the meeting which also sought to build stronger ties of collaboration between the two sides.
Following that meeting a fortnight ago at the Honuta border, the Togolese authorities have begun constructing the link road to Honuta, the DCE told the Ghanaian Times.
