Court orders deportation of “professional beggars”

An Aflao Circuit Court has ordered the deportation of five visually impaired Nigerian beggars intercepted by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) personnel at the Sogakope checkpoint last Monday.

The Court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, on Thursday, upheld a deportation request made by the Police.

The Court also imposed a fine of GHC 12.00 each on the illegal migrants who pleaded guilty to engaging in prohibited immigration.

They five beggars, who were accompanied by their seven dependants are Nura Kasum, 70, Sali Abdul Karim, 70, Abdul Hamidu, 50, Hamadu Rufia, 65, and Tasir Issaku 60, while the seven children, all males, are aged between 15 and 20 years.

Mr Michael Akemo, Detective Police Sergeant at Aflao told the court that the 12, from Kano in Nigeria, said they were in Ghana to escape from difficult economic conditions back home in Nigeria.

He said the 12, who said they were to be hosted by the visually, impaired Moslem chief in Accra have no vaccination certificates and showed no means of financial support and would be a burden on the Ghanaian public.

Meanwhile the Aflao Moslem community has since picked up the GHC144.00 total fine imposed on the group, who were expected to be handed over to the GIS authorities today, Friday, at Aflao to be dispatched back to Nigeria.