Chinese National, 1 Other Arrested for Attempt to Evade Border Checks

A Chinese national and a Ghanaian have been handed over to the police for investigations and possible prosecution after they tried evading checks at the Paga border.

A statement by the Immigration Service (GIS) said the suspects were in a Burkina Faso-registered Toyota Rav4 car numbered 0919G203 when they bypassed the checkpoint with speed on reaching there.

“On reaching the Ghana side of the border, they attempted to evade Immigration control by speeding off. Inspector Ebenezer Badu and AICO I Charles Taalf who were on duty gave them a hot chase which led to the interception and arrest of Mr Zhou Quan, the Chinese; and Mr Awato Kwame, his Ghanaian accomplice.”

On their arrest, they were found with two Chinese pump action guns (Golden Eagle), eleven packs of body amour bags, two jack knives, fifteen electronic gold scales, three phones, one pack of suspected gold ore, GHC147,160.00, CFA51,000.00 and USD330.00.

They were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigations.

In response to this, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi (Esq) has directed all Commanders to tighten security at the country’s borders and beef up patrols at all unapproved routes to ensure that illegal entries and exits are brought down to the barest minimum.

The CGI has also directed Commanders to operationalize their community engagement strategies with border community members as a further step toward reducing the involvement of community members in illegal crossings and receiving their collaboration in the fight against migration-related crimes.

Meanwhile, foreigners who intend to visit the country have been urged to follow the laid-down Immigration regulations.