Ghana deports 723 Nigerians over prostitution, cybercrime

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has deported 723 Nigerians over alleged illegal stay, cybercrime and prostitution.

This was disclosed by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Amb. Michael Abikoye durimg a meeting with the Comptroller-General (CG) of GIS, Keane Taking, in Ghana.

Abikoye also protested what he described as inhuman treatment of Nigerians.

He explained that between January 2018 and January 2019, 81 Nigerians were deported on alleged cybercrime and illegal stay in January, while 115 had so far been deported in February on the allegation of overstay and prostitution.

He said, “Although, the GIS had linked prostitution and cybercrimes as some of the reasons for the deportation, it is improper to deport Nigerians for alleged illegal stay in Ghana.

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“There are several Ghanaians living in Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service has never deported any of them on ground of illegal stay, because of a sense of brotherliness between our countries.”

While presenting a copy of the Mission’s records on deportations of Nigerians from January 2018 till date to the CG, the Ambassador appealed to the CG to prevail on his officials to treat Nigerians and other ECOWAS nationals with human face, caution and not as common criminals.

While responding, the CG noted that the Ghanaian government was forced to carry out the repatriation because of the unruly behaviour of some Nigerians in the country.

He said, “some Nigerians had become laws in themselves; they do road blockages in major Ghanaian streets where they drink, fight and stab one another.

“This unruly behaviour” which contravenes the local laws in Ghana has led to directive from higher authority for their arrests and eventual deportation of those who do not have the requisite immigration papers.”

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