Detained Ghanaians Charged With Illegal Immigration

By Joe Dinga Pefok

Ten Ghanaians who were arrested and detained at the New Bell Prison recently, have been charged with illegal immigration.They were charged on November 26 at the Bonanjo Magistrate Court, Douala.

When the charge was read out, the Ghanaians were told that they were being accused of having entered Cameroon without valid documents. However, they pleaded not guilty to the accusation.

The State Prosecutor, Djoumbi Soppo, instead of just making the case for the State, went on to tell the pathetic story of the Ghanaians; how they were among 50 survivors of a boat accident and how they were finally admitted to stay temporarily in Cameroon under the care of the Cameroon government. 

He said the Ghanaians, who were living at the Rehabilitation Centre in Bepanda, Douala, started looking for menial jobs to do. He said they were spotted severally moving around Bonanjo, causing the local administration to become worried.

Ghanaian Authorities To Intervene

Meanwhile, the State Prosecutor disclosed that the DO of Douala I instructed the 9th Police District to arrest the Ghanaians. He said the DO expressed the fear that they were becoming a security risk. The State Prosecutor went on to explain that since the police have a limited period to keep anybody in detention, the police sent the matter to court.

The police brought the Ghanaians to the Magistrate Court on November 21, and the court instructed that they be taken to the New Bell Prison to await trial.However, the case against the Ghanaians became worrisome to the State Prosecutor and the Presiding Judge, Joseph Elaba. 

There was an apparent reluctance to prosecute the foreigners considering the circumstances under which the Ghanaians came to Cameroon.After a brief silence, the judge adjourned the matter to December 24, to enable the court have a clear picture of the matter. 

However, the President of the Ghanaian community in Douala, Kwame Gyimah, told The Post that following the publication of the story, Ghanaian authorities have indicated their intention to intervene.

He said there are indications that either the Ghanaian High Commissioner in Nigeria or the Ghanaian Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea will be in Cameroon soon in connection with the detained Ghanaian nationals.

Comments

[Ma Mary]

"Security risk" my foot. Camerounese authorities are simply afraid of Nigerians and Ghanaians, any community that could be a potential lifeline for us. They would never massively lock up Senegalese, Ivorians or any other group that worships the frog.

[CountryFowl]

Ma Mary,

It is outrageous & unbecoming of these Cameroonian authorities to treat their own kind in such a cruel, senseless & high handed manner.

But then again what do we expect from a people whose morals & point of view in relation to other people's existence is below the level of hyenas & vultures.
This kind of an exercise is newer tactic from desperate officials, unprecedented so far & it is called official kidnapping for subsequent ransom.

Off course, when relatives & friends in distant Ghana will get wind of these, they will rally money, goods & other things to facilitate their release.

So it is better to write to their high commissions & point them to this story. The only problem with those emails below is that they bounce when one attempts to send a message, but still worth giving it a trial.

Ghana High Commission
13 Belgrave Square,
London Swix 8PN
Main Line: +44 (0) 207 201 5900
Chancery : +44 (0) 207 235 4142
Information Section:
+44 (0) 207 201 5924
+44 (0) 207 201 5927
+44 (0) 207 201 5929
Defence Section: +44 (0) 207 201 5938
General Fax: +44 (0) 207 245 9552
Email: information@ghanahighcommissionuk.com
Email: passports@ghanahighcommissionuk.com
Email: visas@ghanahighcommissionuk.com
Website: www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/index.php