Michael Abikoye, Nigerian high commissioner to Ghana, has protested the
“inhuman treatment” of Nigerians by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
At a
meeting between him and Kwame Takyi, the comptroller-general of GIS, the high
commissioner said 723 Nigerians were deported over alleged illegal stay,
cybercrime and prostitution between the January 2018 and January 2019.
According
to him, 81 Nigerians were deported over alleged cybercrime and illegal stay in
January, while 115 have so far been deported in February on the allegation of
overstay and prostitution.
The high
commissioner cautioned against inhuman treatment of Nigerians by Ghana, warning
that any form of torture or ill treatment of Nigerians would not be acceptable
to Nigerian government.
He said,
though the high commission would not condone any form of criminality on the
part of Nigerians, inhuman treatment and alleged torture of some Nigerians in
Ghana would no longer be tolerated.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
He also
showed photos of some of them who sustained injuries on their legs, arms and
eyes in the process of being tortured.
According
to him, the inhuman act was against the United Nations Convention against
Torture.
He
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.
In his
response, the CG acknowledged the existing bilateral relationship between the
two countries as earlier pointed by Abikoye.
According
to Takyi, the GIS are being compelled to carry out repatriation because of the
conduct of some Nigerian nationals in Ghana.
He alleged
that besides engaging in cybercrime and prostitution, “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,” he said.The CG, however,
promised to investigate alleged torture of some Nigerians.
He,
however, showed the ambassador a video of some Nigerians, obstructing justice
by preventing the official vehicle of the GIS the right of way after arresting
a Nigerian in Kasoa area.
- The
Cable
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