Ghana should not be painted as an abuser of foreign investors - Judge

An Accra High Court judge, Justice Naa Adoley Azu, presiding over a case of an application for mandamus filed by Mr Sivaram, who was deported from the country on June 1, 2017 has cautioned respondents in the matter to refrain from actions that will cast the nation in bad light.

The judge had ordered the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, and the Minister of the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery, to appear before the court to justify why a temporary residence permit should not be issued to an Indian businessman, Mr Ashok Kumar Sivaram.

The judge ordered the Immigration Service to issue Indian businessman, Ashok Kumar Sivaram a temporary residence permit while dealing with his legal issues.

Justice Azu said if care is not taken, an erroneous impression would be created that foreign in Ghana are not treated according to international humanitarian standards.

Foreigners who have genuine business concerns should be treated fairly especially when the wheels of bureaucracy are churning, she said. The judge further stated that the permit is to accord the applicant a legal status until the case of mandamus is moved. The applicant she said is a businessman who has employed Ghanaians working for him and as such should not be subjected to unfair treatment.

While Mrs Armah insisted the businessman did not appear in person before the Immigration Service for regularization of his stay as ordered by the court, the Comptroller General, when put in the witness box told the court that Mr.
Sivaram had appeared before him. The applicant she stressed cannot be described as an illegal immigrant until the outcome of his application for permit is communicated to him.

Ghana as a country she said frowns on inhuman treatment of its citizens in other countries hence it will be improper for us to subject foreigners to unfair treatment.

She said, when you have a genuine business in Ghana to defend, you must be given the opportunity to do so. You can't deport investors without giving them the opportunity to be heard. The man must be heard.