By Edzorna Francis Mensah
Some Members of Parliament have descended heavily on the armed immigration officers who allegedly assaulted an unarmed civilian woman in the person of Abigail Azaledzi near the Aflao Border, Beat 9.
The MPs called on the Minister of Interior and demanded the immediate suspension from duty of the officers involved pending a thorough investigation into the incident.
The MPs, contributing to the statement on ‘condemnation of assault by immigration officers at the Aflao border’ by MP for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, also asked the sector minister to put in place measures to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure that the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected. “We must demand the highest form of accountability from those who serve in positions of responsibility and ensure that the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.”
The MP in the statement was deeply disturbed and outraged by the contents of a video involving officers of the Ghana Immigration Service. The said video, as played in parliament, captured an unarmed civilian woman, Ms. Abigail Azaledzi, at the Beat 9 area of Aflao being physically assaulted by two gun-wielding Immigration Officers at the Aflao border in the Ketu South Municipality.
Madam Gomashie unequivocally condemned the unprofessional and heinous conduct of the officers and stressed the fact that “no individual, regardless of their position or authority, has the right to inflict such violence upon another citizen. The Ghana Immigration Service, entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding our borders, must uphold the highest standards of conduct and integrity. The actions of these officers have not only tarnished the reputation of the Service but have also undermined public trust.
The incident raises serious questions about the service’s training protocols and the culture within the Ketu South border facility.
Citizens deserve to feel safe from violence, particularly at the hands of those entrusted with our security. The blatant disregard for the dignity and rights of a citizen in this manner is simply unacceptable.
Under no circumstances whatsoever should armed uniformed personnel resort to physical attack, violence, and causing harm of any kind to unarmed citizens, especially so under unprovoked circumstances.
The core mandate of the service is to regulate and monitor the entry, residence, employment, and exit of all foreigners. The objectives of the service include managing migration in the national interest by promoting migration that contributes to the economic, social, and developmental interests of Ghana and the communities residing therein. Any conduct by officers and assigns of the service outside of these objectives may well be misplaced, where in this case it is unprofessional and unlawful.”