Coronavirus: Five immigration officers promoted for rejecting GH₵1.9k bribe

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has promoted six of its junior officers for their dedication to the country’s fight against coronavirus.

Five of the officers with the Northern Regional Immigration Command (NRIC), were promoted for rejecting a GH¢1,900 bribe offered by 19 Burkinabes who wanted to be allowed entry into the country during the closure of Ghana’s borders.

In a statement, the GIS said “they (Officers) intercepted and arrested the Burkinabes at the Savelugu inland immigration checkpoint, after the foreign nationals had entered Ghana illegally through unapproved routes of the northern frontiers, and were en route to Accra on an OA bus with registration number GT 8242-19”.

The five officers are Assistant Inspector Lukman Tea Salifu; Immigration Control Officers (ICO) Christian Kobla Kekeli Zilevu and Robert Ahiatrogah; and Assistant Immigration Control Officers Grade II (AICO II) Eric Kobby Kpogo and Isaac Armah.

The sixth officer, ICO Lawrence Appiah Marfo of the Kasoa District Command was promoted for putting his life on the line while pursuing smugglers at the Hamile border post. He was deployed there for the ‘Operation Conquered Fist’.

ICO Appiah Marfo sustained gunshot wounds while pursuing the smugglers and was airlifted by the Ghana Air Force to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for medical attention.

A statement signed by the GIS Head of Public Affairs, Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta said the officer was in a “stable condition” whiles all 19 Burkinabes have been repatriated to their home country.