Are the forms to blame?
For a country that is supposed to be wooing tourists as well as investors, it seems odd that recently Ghana appears to be giving the impression that we’re starting a new policy of ‘foreigners beware’, with the Bureau of National Investigations centre stage.
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It is also disquieting that President John Mahama, who has often been criticised for a penchant for talking too much, is silent now when we need to hear his views, or have him demonstrate by action, that he’s taken note of the expressions of concern regarding the actions of State Security.
First it was the trio from South Africa, security experts, who were arrested in the Central Region last month essentially for engaging in a ‘business’ that was different from the “business” they stated on their visa application and disembarkation forms, and who were consequently deported.
Then it was seven Pakistani Muslim preachers who found themselves in trouble, also last month, allegedly on suspicion of either being in the country illegally or here to engage in terrorist activities. They, too, were arrested in the Central Region and the BNI was reportedly investigating them.
The three retired South African police officers, were “each charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful training and making false declaration,” according to the Daily Graphic of April 1.
Major Ahmed Shaik Hazis, Warrant Officer Denver Dwayhe Naidu and Captain Mlungiseli Jokani pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The facts presented in court were that “information reached the security agencies that some people were training (some persons) in military tactics.”
They reportedly told investigators that they were brought into the country by Captain Edmund Kojo Koda (retd) and Captain Kwesi Acquah (retd) to train the security personnel of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Election 2016.
Further investigation at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) revealed that on arrival in Ghana, the accused had stated on their arrival or disembarkation forms that they were “in Ghana to do business”.
Responding to the arrests, the NPP issued a statement which said in part: “We wish to place on record that the presence of the three men in Ghana is not for any act that can be said remotely to threaten the country’s security. Known security detail belonging to the NPP’s presidential and vice presidential candidates were being given routine training by these security experts specialised and licensed to offer VIP Protection.”
“Indeed, the two personal drivers of the candidates, as well as the official photographer of Nana Akufo-Addo, were part of the 15 persons undergoing training, which took place on the premises of a well-known, licensed, Ghanaian security company,” said the statement signed by the NPP’s Director of Communications, Nana Akomea.
“The 3 South Africans arrived in the country on Business visas. Training of personnel in VIP protection is part of their business, and, therefore, no deception was intended,” the statement explained.
The three were granted bail on March 24 by the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Patricia Quansah, and the case was adjourned to April 12. But the BNI defied the court and took them away.
On March 29, the GIS deported them and the state has served notice that it will no longer pursue the case against them.
In the case of the Pakistanis, Daily Guide of April 4 confirmed that contrary to the earlier reports, the Pakistanis are here as guests of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharabutu.
The Guide quoted Alhaji Adam Musah Abubakar, an Administrator in the office of the National Chief Imam, as explaining that Pakistanis come to Ghana every year to undertake missionary activities. Moreover, that arrangement has been operating for years!
It’s a fact that the whole world is nervous about security, hence the extremely negative reactions when it was learned in January that our country is hosting two ex-detainees from Guantanamo for two years, courtesy of President Mahama. But if Pakistani preachers have been coming to Ghana annually for ages, and the seven have been here for some time, how come all of a sudden their visit led to such suspicion and their arrest?
Or, is there a link between the two incidents, a policy of ‘Equalization’ being implemented? Did the Pakistanis suffer the harassment because the BNI wants to give the impression that they’re fair, that what happened to the South Africans can happen to any other foreigners?
Anyway, it was a disappointment to learn that the South Africans had been deported and that the state was discontinuing their prosecution. I was looking forward to the court’s ruling.
Now this charge of ‘false declaration’ raises some issues. For instance, what about the Chinese and other nationals who come to Ghana ostensibly for genuine work but who in reality come to engage in illegal mining or ‘galamsey’, and related activities?
What do they write when they apply for visas to Ghana? And what do they put on their disembarkation forms as the purpose of their visit, ‘here to do galamsey’? Probably they, too, write the one word, or tick the ‘Business’ box.
Strange that one never hears of any of those when deported being accused of deception or ‘false declaration’. We only hear that they have been deported for illegal mining, never for false declaration on their arrival forms!
Could the fault be in the design of the forms? Maybe both the visa application and the disembarkation forms should ask the visitor to be specific, to state the exact nature of their ‘business’ here.
I recall suggesting, long ago on another platform, that we need to redesign such forms, to simplify them as other countries have done.
This is why it would have been particularly instructive to know the court’s view regarding the South Africans. A missed opportunity!
But then perhaps some people realised that they didn’t want to know after all.
Adjoa Yeboah-Afari's 'Thoughts of a Native Daughter' column appears in The Mirror every Friday.
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