The Sekondi Magistrate Court ‘B’ in the Western Region has fined 24 persons a total of GH¢24,000 on 24 for engaging in commercial sex and immigration offences.
On October 14, 2023, GIS arrested 31 ECOWAS nationals suspected to be involved in commercial sex and immigration offences within the Ellembelle District and Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.
After investigations, the 24 convicts were arraigned before the court.
The 24 person, who are all foreigners were charged with illegal entry and illegal stay and were convicted on their own plea when they appeared before the court. presided over by Ms Araba Nunoo.
The court presided over by Ms Araba Nunoo also ruled that the accused persons are to serve a default six months prison term.
Eight (8) of the 24 persons have however redeemed their fines, giving way to administrative processes leading to their deportation back to their home country.
In a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Western Region, Assistant Inspector Moses Manfred Akakpo, the remaining 16 convicted persons begun serving their sentence at the Sekondi Central Prison.
The statement also indicated that, the prosecution team, led by the Western Regional Legal Officer of the GIS, Chief Superintendent Samuel Bilson, secured a deportation order for all the 24 convicts.
Meanwhile, the GIS indicated that it was in the process of repatriating two persons, who were identified during investigations as having been trafficked, back to their home country to be united with their families.
Additionally, two nursing mothers, together with the three main suspects, Mr and Mrs Okereke, all Nigerians and a Ghanaian, Mr Kofi Bekoe, have been granted enquiry bail to enable the GIS conclude its investigations on them.