A bus carrying some 35 foreigners has been intercepted by officials of the Ghana Immigration Service at Nandom in the Upper West Region.

The aliens were reportedly smuggled into Ghana through unapproved routes and were heading to Accra, Kumasi and Sunyani when they were stopped at the Nandom Hospital Junction on Tuesday, 17 August 2021 at about 6:40 pm.

According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service in the Upper West Region, Assistant Inspector Ibn Yussif Duranah Abdul-Mumin Seidu, the illegal immigrants comprised eleven Burkinabes, 19 Malians, 2 Sierra Leoneans and 3 Guineans.

Nineteen of them were males and 16 females with their ages between 17 and 55.

The GIS said its investigations revealed that they were in the country “for business, farming, education and family visits”.

The bus, with registration number AS 3413 – 20, has been impounded.

The immigrants have since been screened by port health authorities.

They are being deported to Burkina Faso at the Hamile border.

The GIS further reiterated its resolve to combat illegal migration, especially through the country’s borders.

“As part of our mandated duty to combat illegal migration to and from Ghana, and, stemmed from the presidential directive on land borders closure, we urge the general public to collaborate with state security agencies to win the battle. The preparedness of the Ghana Immigration Service to combat illegal migration is non-negotiable.

“To the few unscrupulous persons who facilitate the activities of irregular migration, we can assure you that your days are numbered”, adding: “The law would catch up with you and mercy would have been too late”.

“We’re unfazed because we have the backing of the state”, the statement added.