Prosecute them, don't just deport them – Awula Serwah slams government

Lawyer and Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to deport foreigners involved in criminal activities in Ghana, rather than prosecuting them.

Speaking on UTV, as monitored by MyNewsGh, she did not mince words in criticizing the move, describing it as unfair and a clear sign of disrespect to Ghana’s justice system.

"How can you deport people destroying our environment without even prosecuting them? It doesn’t make sense," she fumed.

Her comments follow a statement by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, during a recent visit to the Ashanti Region. He revealed that foreigners arrested for illegal mining, logging, and other environmental crimes would be deported after investigations.

However, for Awula Serwah, that approach is simply inadequate.

"If a Ghanaian engages in galamsey or cyber fraud, don’t we prosecute them here? So why should a foreigner be treated differently? Where is the justice in that?" she questioned.

She insisted that deportation without prosecution sends the wrong message and could even embolden more foreigners to come in and break the law, knowing there won’t be any real consequences.

"This is about the rule of law. We can’t have two systems of justice – one for Ghanaians and one for foreigners. It’s unacceptable," she stressed.

Awula Serwah is urging the government to reconsider this approach and instead focus on strengthening the country’s legal systems to deal with all criminals — regardless of nationality.

"If you commit a crime here, you should face the law here. Period!" she added firmly.