The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority’s (GPHA) Security, in collaboration with allied security agencies, including the Ghana navy, the military, and the police, have embarked on an operation to eliminate all illegal settlers, a large chunk believed to be alleged criminals around the port enclave.

According to the Port Security, intelligence gathered, indicates that many of the illegal settlers around the Port enclave, engage in the abuse of illicit drugs, and trade in them, which has become of social concern to the Port Authority and the nation at large, culminating in the organisation of massive raid and demolition exercise.

During the exercise, 45 Ghanaians including 7 females, 19 Burkinabe’s, 2 Nigerians, a Sierra Leonean and an Ivorian were arrested and handed over to the Railways and Marine Police Unit for investigations and necessary action.

Items such as cannabis, assorted hard liquors and pharmaceutical drugs such as cough syrups and pain relievers were also found in their possession and seized.

The Port Security Manager, Colonel Joseph Punamane, emphasized that, this exercise is the first of many to follow to ensure that no such illegal settlers are encouraged to occupy the port space.

"For this one, I was not trying to achieve surprise, because I just want to send a signal that we are awake and we will continue to harass and deal with the criminals around the port until we get rid of them,” the PSM stated vehemently.