Correspondence from Bono Region

Ten foreign nationals who entered the country illegally have been remanded for two weeks by the Berekum Circuit Court in the Bono Region.

The suspects, eight men and two females believed to be Togolese were arraigned before the Berekum Circuit Court on Thursday 30th April 2020 following their arrest on April 27, 2020.

His Honour Osei Kofi Amoako who presided over the case remanded them to reappear on May 14, 2020.

The Court further directed the suspects to be isolated and tested for the deadly COVID-19 before they reappear on May 14, 2020.

Presenting the facts before the court, Chief Kwakye Brobbey revealed that the suspects are from Jake in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire but entered the country through Sampa in the Jaman North District in the Bono Region.

According to him, the suspects who were arrested by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service at Sampa confessed that they were en route to Togo.

Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for the Jaman North District Honourable Adane Ankomah has told Ghanaweb that the suspects in line with the court’s order are currently being kept at the isolation centre in Sampa.

He revealed that they have since tightened security arrangement in the area to prevent foreigners from entering the country illegally through their end.

“Even though we have closed our borders, we arrested them trying to sneak into the country so we duly made arrangements for them to be put before court. They are currently being held at the isolation centre in Sampa pending further directions by the court.

“…we have since tightened security arrangements and anyone apprehended doing same will not be spared”.

Ghana’s air, sea, and land borders were closed on Sunday, March 22, 2020, following an order by President Akufo-Addo to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The closure has been extended by an additional one month effective May 4, 2020.