…As Takyi, Rashid Bawa visit Babandede over 4 deported Ghanaians ***

Top management of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), led by the GIS Comptroller General, Mr Kwame Takyi swooped on Nigeria last week, on a conciliatory mission, a week after the deportation of four Ghanaians from Nigeria. 

Mr Kwame Takyi’s visit which was meant to prove Ghana’s proactive responses to whatever affects Ghanaians however failed to achieve its desired purpose, as another meeting may have been also rescheduled.A

Mr Kwame Takyi’s visit which was meant to prove Ghana’s proactive responses to whatever affects Ghanaians however failed to achieve its desired purpose, as another meeting may have been also rescheduled. 

It could not be confirmed if the deportation of the four Ghanaians which the Minister of interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) actually authorised was Nigeria’s counter move against Ghana, which deported 723 Nigerians from Ghana, over alleged criminal activities, cyber crime, prostitution and other related offences.

Also Read: FG protests Ghana’s inhuman treatment of Nigerians

More so, as no formal explanation was publicly rendered for the deportation,  except that it was approved by Abdulrahman Dambazau, the Minister of the Interior.

Confirming the development, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James, stated that Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede actually hosted both the Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Kwame Takyi, accompanied by the Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Rashid Bawa.

“The meeting, which held behind closed doors, appeared to be a conciliatory meeting following the deportation of four Ghanaian nationals from Nigeria to Ghana.

“Babandede when contacted confirmed the meeting saying details of a further meeting was being worked out by the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Ghana.

“There is no cause for alarm as both countries will resolve issues between both countries diplomatically.”

It would be recalled that the minister of interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) had authorised the deportation order of the four Ghanaian nationals over alleged violation of provisions of the Immigration Act and Regulations.

“This is in line with the powers vested on the Minister of Interior in Section 45(1) and (2) of the Immigration Act 2015″, Mr James said.

A month earlier, Nigeria had protested mass deportation of at least 723 of its citizens between 2018 and February 2019. The Nigerians were accused of illegal stay, cyber-crime, prostitution and other social vices.

Eighty-one Nigerians were deported on alleged cyber-crime and illegal stay in January, while 115 have so far been deported in February on the allegation of overstay and prostitution.

 Nigerian ambassador to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, strongly protested the action to the Ghanaian government in Accra.

Nigeria’s objection to the removal of its citizens from Ghana and failure to publicly state the offences of the four deported Ghanaians had fueled speculation that the March 22 decision might have been done in retaliation.