Coronavirus; 12 okada riders arrested for aiding illegal entries

The Deputy Comptroller General at the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Laud Ofori Afrifa says 12 ‘okada’ riders have been arrested for trying to smuggle some people into Ghana after President Nana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declared a closure of Ghana’s borders.

Addressing the press at the Ministry of Information on March 24, 2020, Mr Afrifa cautioned that any plan to smuggle people into the country should cease else perpetrators should be ready for the outcome of such actions.

“We want to send a word of caution to our border communities and the transporters. We are not in normal times, so the manner they’ve been operating in conspiring to smuggle in and out of the country should cease".

He added that Ghana's borders are completely closed hence any person seen trying to enter illegally would be arrested, detained, quarantined and prosecuted. 

"The border communities are a critical part of our border management strategy. We expect them at this time to cooperate with the security agencies. They should rather inform us of their entries rather than aiding them.

"When the virus hits, it would hit them too and it would start with them. We are also sending a word of caution to all persons out there, that Ghana’s borders are completely shut, do not attempt to enter, you face arrest, detention, mandatory quarantine and a possible prosecution."

President Akufo-Addo on Sunday [March 22, 2020], directed the close-down of Ghana's borders - land, sea and air to aid in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 in the country.