A Ghanaian and two Nigerians locked up in Trinidad and Tobago for various immigration offenses, are set to regain their freedom after President Akufo-Addo’s intervened.
The Ghanaian, Musa Ibrahim, was arrested by border agency officials of Trinidad and Tobago while travelling by sea with his child to neighbouring Venezuela. Upon his arrest, they requested that he called his wife to show up at the immigration office to prove that he had ties in Trinidad and Tobago. When his wife responded to the request, the officials handed the couple’s daughter over to her and imprisoned the man.
Nana Akufo-Addo who is on a 5-day tour of the Caribbean region, pleaded with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley, to pardon the immigrant when the two leaders held a bilateral meeting as part of his visit.
“I have one piece of good news; the Ghanaian who is in jail for immigration problems, Prime Minister Rowley has assured me that he is going to be released. This is in honour of my visit,” he announced to the Ghanaian community.
Little was said about the two other West African nationals who also benefited from the visit but the Ghanaian leader informed the gathering that they will also be released and integrated into the community and allowed to stay.
The President also advised Ghanaians who plan to visit the Island with a population of 1.3 million, to respect the laws of that country and live peacefully with the people.
“You can come into this country visa-free. There is no need, therefore, to get on the wrong side of the immigration authority. If you come [here and you want] to stay, go through the process and stay…” he advised.
Year of Return
The tour of the Caribbean is part of efforts to promote the ‘Year of Return’ -the event being planned by Ghana to mark the 400th anniversary of the first recorded arrival in America of West African slaves.
The year 2019 marks the 400-year anniversary of the first recorded arrival, in 1619, of the first twenty (20) enslaved Africans in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which was to become part of the United States of America, initiating some of the most barbaric episodes in human history – the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and slavery.
Source:myjoyonline