The Denu Circuit Court in the Volta Region has sentenced a 32-year-old Nigerien tricycle rider, Mustapha Usman, to seven months in prison for facilitating the unlawful entry of four Nigerien nationals into Ghana.
Usman, who resides in Togo, pleaded guilty to two charges after they were read and translated into Hausa with assistance from the Ghana Police Service, Ketu Division.
The court subsequently convicted him on both counts and sentenced him to three months for migrant smuggling and four months for causing a false representation to be made. The two sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of seven months in prison.
The court further ordered that Usman be returned to the custody of the Aflao Police Station pending his transfer to the Ho Central Prison.
The four Nigerien migrants involved in the case have since been repatriated.
According to the prosecution, the four migrants engaged Usman to facilitate their entry into Ghana after travelling from Togo.
The prosecution told the court that Usman agreed to transport the migrants from the Lagos Lorry Park in Lomé, Togo, to Kojoviakope near the Aflao border area for a fee of GH¢200 per person.
Upon reaching Kojoviakope, Usman allegedly contacted an accomplice identified only as Remy to assist with facilitating the migrants’ entry into Ghana.
The prosecution said the migrants were discovered by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Aflao Sector Command during an operation at the border area.
Usman was subsequently arrested by immigration officers at the Aflao Border Beat Six Post.
The court heard that after the migrants were intercepted, Usman approached the scene and identified himself as the owner of the tricycle involved.
The four migrants were taken to the border for questioning, where they reportedly confirmed that they had each contributed towards the payment made to Usman.
The prosecution also told the court that Remy, who allegedly assisted in the operation, remains at large.
The case was presented by DSI Emmanuel Faith Otchere-Baffour, who held brief for DCOI Mark Asamoah-Boakye.
Usman was charged under Ghana’s Immigration Act in relation to migrant smuggling and causing a false representation to be made.
The case highlights the efforts of Ghanaian border authorities to prevent unlawful entry and strengthen monitoring along the country’s borders.
The Aflao border is one of Ghana’s major entry points and connects the country with neighbouring Togo. Immigration authorities routinely conduct checks in the area as part of efforts to regulate movement across the country’s borders.
The sentencing also underscores the legal consequences for individuals convicted of facilitating unlawful entry into Ghana.
With Usman now sentenced and the four migrants repatriated, authorities are expected to continue efforts to identify and apprehend any other persons suspected of involvement in the case.
The alleged accomplice, Remy, remains at large as the authorities continue their efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Source: Thepressradio.com
