Government investigates deportation of Ghanaians from USA

The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament on Thursday had a closed-door meeting with the Foreign Minister to address foreign policy issues including those affecting Ghanaians abroad.

Specific issues discussed in the meeting were the deportation of Ghanaian immigrants from the United States and the Nigeria kidnapper who was arrested with a Ghanaian passport.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee Patrick Boamah expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

“We had a discussion with the Foreign Minister on the deportation of Ghanaians and also the kidnapper, Evans. We were very satisfied with the answers given by the minister,” he said.

Mr Boamah also told the media Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said government has already started investigations into the matter of the deportees and that the committee will also conduct further investigation into the matter.

“Investigations are going on with the Ghana Immigration Service and other state agencies,” he added.

“I think the next step will be to meet with the deportees and have a conversation with them.

My committee has written to the Ghana Immigration Service to give us the names and contacts of those who were deported so that we can also have a session with them.”

He, however, stressed the need for the birth and death registry to be overhauled because according to him, it was the weakest link in the passport acquisition process for the infamous Nigerian Kidnapper.

The Okaikoi Central MP was also optimistic that when the national identification exercise kicks off, it will go a long way to curb the illegal acquisition of passports and impersonation.