We rejected GHC25k bribe; arrested trucks smuggling PFJ fertilisers – GIS

The smugglers confessed they were going to make GHC60,000.00 profit out of the arrested goods

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has revealed that six of its Border Patrol Officers refused to accept a GHS25,000.00 bribe and arrested two trucks loaded with bags of smuggled fertilisers diverted from government’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme in the Upper West Region to be sold in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

A total of 1,950 bags were retrieved from the truck en route to Burkina Faso via the Fielmo unapproved route in the Sissala West District.

Narrating the incident, the Hamile Sector Commander, Chief Superintendent Felix Agyemang-Bosompem, said they received a tip-off at around 1:00 am on Friday, 1 August 2019, that two trucks were being loaded with fertilisers to be smuggled.

He immediately dispatched six officers to lay ambush at the said route where the trucks were expected to pass. A search was conducted on the trucks when it arrived and 1,950 bags of government´s NPK fertiliser were intercepted.

The Sector Commander also revealed that his men who conducted the operation were offered GHS25,000.00 by the owners of the loot as their share if they allowed them pass. However, this was rejected and the officials called for reinforcement from the military and police since they were out-numbered.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Kwame Takyi, commended the officers for their selfless service while assuring them of an award package.

“The President in his own God-given wisdom to increase production rolled out the planting for food and jobs with more money but look at how some greedy Ghanaians are helping collapse the programme,” he lamented.

The impounded trucks with the fertilisers have since been handed over to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority in Hamile for further action and handing over to the Wa Regional Coordinating Council.