.....For Visa Fraud

In an effort by President Mahama’s administration to root out corruption in the public services, three top officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) involved in visas and work permit racketeering have been interdicted pending formal administrative trial in the respective roles they played in those duplicitous acts.

They are ADI Kwame Takyi, Deputy Director, Legal, ADI Veronica Addy, Deputy Director, Finance and Administration and ADI Joseph Gardiner Regional Director.

Spotless sources close to the GIS have disclosed that the three interdicted directors played a major role in the issuance of unofficial visas and working permits to some illegal Chinese workers.

According to information being bounced around by my sources, the GIS has moved immediately to appoint three top immigration officers to act in the stated positions of the three interdicted officers.

I am reliably informed that the GIS has appointed ADI Felix Sarpong as acting Deputy Director, Operations, ADI Judith Dzokoto, acting Deputy Director, Finance and Administration and ADI Baaba Asare, acting Director, Legal. The decisions take immediate effect.

It will be recalled that about five months ago there was a massive hue and cry by the public concerning the huge influx of Chinese illegal workers in the galamsey mining activities in Ghana which is causing colossal destruction of forests, public lands and water sources in Ghana.

Following the public outcry, the GIS instituted an investigation to determine the working status of some of the Chinese illegal immigrants who were rounded up in swoops. It was during the investigations that a committee set up by the GIS uncovered that the three interdicted officials signed visas and working permits for some Chinese illegals which turned out to be falsified.

It must be noted that before foreign workers are issued with working permits to work in the mining industry in Ghana, they have to secure approvals from the Minerals Commission, Ghana Investment Promotions Council (GIPC) and the Immigration Quota Committee.

Unfortunately, when the committee instituted by the GIS took a deep dive they found out that all the Chinese workers issued with working permits and visas by the three interdicted officers did not have any authorizations from the Minerals Commission, GIPC and the Immigration Quota Committee.

And to add to the inflammable case, all the files for the illegal Chinese workers who were issued with fraudulent visas and working permits cannot be traced.

nakuakoduah@yahoo.com