This was after a seven-member jury unanimously pronounced him guilty on the charge of murder.

However, on the charge of conspiracy to commit crime, namely murder, leveled against Seidu and Reverend Goodwill Padmore, an in-law of Reverend Sidney Barnes, the deceased, the jury unanimously returned a verdict of not guilty on them.

The Court, therefore acquitted and discharged them of that charge.

Seidu, who is to be hanged on the charge of murder, has 30 days to appeal against his conviction.

Mr. Augustines Obuor, who represented the two in court, prayed the Court presided over by Mr. Justice Iddrisu Abdullai for compensation of GH¢500,000 for Rev. Padmore, since he had been on remand for the past eight years.

According to Mr. Obuor, Rev. Padmore, an educationist, while in custody had suffered a mild stroke and prayed the Court to take into consideration Article 14 (5) of the 1992 Constitution.

“I believe that justice would be served if the eight-year period that his freedom was taken away from him, he is adequately compensated by the High Court, which is a court of justice.”

Defence Counsel said Rev. Padmore now 68 years, if given the GH¢500,000 compensation would be enough to cater for his pension considering the humiliation ahead of him in the society he was going live in.

Ms. Elizabeth Sackeyfio, a Senior Attorney from the Attorney General’s Department was of the opinion that Rev. Padmore was not entitled to any compensation.

The trial judge in his ruling held that Rev. Padmore would have to justify his stand.

The Prosecution said the 75-year-old deceased was a missionary attached to the Calvary Chapel in the United States of America.

The prosecution said in 1997, the deceased came to Ghana as a missionary and established the Crossroads Christian Mission Incorporated in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

He also established Prestige Secretarial and Computer School, Koforidua, and owned Manna Missions Farms at Akwamu Amanfo, near Nsawam.

The prosecution said the deceased, Rev Barnes, employed Seidu as a driver and farm manager, and Rev. Padmore as the Principal of the Computer and Secretarial School in Koforidua.

Sometime in December 2009, the deceased took his leave and traveled to the USA on holidays, but he constantly communicated with his employees, especially Rev. Padmore.

On March 10, 2009, the prosecution said the deceased informed Rev Padmore that he would be returning to Ghana on March 18, 2010, on board a British Airways Flight.

The deceased, therefore asked Rev. Padmore to inform Seidu to pick him up at the Airport in the evening of March 18.

On that day, Rev. Padmore instructed Seidu to pick the deceased up, but later on Seidu called to inform Rev. Padmore that the deceased Rev Barnes was nowhere to be found as he was not among the passengers on board the British Airways Flight.

The prosecution said from that time, the two accused persons did not receive any information on the deceased.

However, in May 2010, friends and partners of the deceased in the US became worried about the well-being of the Rev Barnes (the deceased) because they had lost contact with him since he left the US.

The prosecution said through the efforts of the deceased’s friend one Donne Pouguini, a Ghanaian who lived at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region; they managed to get in touch with the deceased’s church in Koforidua, where he met the accused.

She said the accused informed Pouguini that they had also lost contact with the deceased.

In June 2010, Pouguini managed to get the two accused to accompany him to Accra to lodge a complainant with the Police, who in turn commenced investigations with publications searching for Reverend Sidney Barnes (the deceased).

During the investigations, it was revealed that the deceased flew from USA to London with electronic ticket number 1257465295192. The deceased also arrived in London and checked in at Comfort Hotel at Heathrow.

The deceased however left on March 18, 2010, using the same ticket to board British Airways Flight to Ghana.

Enquiries at the Ghana Immigration Service indicated that the deceased checked out at about 10:03 pm.

Based on that, the prosecution said Seidu was therefore picked up by the Police on September 26, 2010, where he denied ever picking the deceased from the Airport.

On October 4, 2010, Seidu confessed that the deceased had been killed, adding, he was persuaded by Rev. Padmore to kill the deceased in order to take away all the money the deceased was bringing from USA.

Seidu, the prosecution said, mentioned that he found 3,000 dollars on the deceased which he gave to Rev Padmore, who gave him (Seidu) half of the amount.

On October 11, 2010, Seidu led a team of pathologists and Police investigators to Manna Missions Farms at Nsawam where he had buried the deceased and the body was exhumed and sent to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for autopsy.

On October 13, 2010, autopsy conducted indicated that the deceased died of multiple stab injuries.

Prosecution called five witnesses to make their case during the trial which commenced on January 15, 2015.

Summing up, the Court noted that prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and confession statement of Seidu.

According to the Court, during the trial, it was made known through a prosecution witness that Seidu apologized to Rev. Padmore for involving him in the crime.

Seidu, the Court said also took the deceased’s laptop to a witness to repair, and whiles the said witness was going to see him (Seidu) off, he realized that the windscreen of the deceased’s vehicle were broken.

When the witness quizzed Seidu, the Court said Seidu informed the witness that Rev. Barnes was on admission following an accident.

According to the court, during the trial, it came to light that Seidu took Rev. Barnes’ blood stain vehicle and offered same for sale for a fee of GH¢3,500.00 to a mechanic who also testified in the matter.

It noted that a Pathologist report established the cause of death of Rev. Barnes to multiple stab injuries.

The Court noted that the prosecution in proving their case ought to establish that Rev. Barnes was dead, his death was caused by harm, the harm was intentional, and that the harm was unlawful.

This, the court noted, was proved by prosecution beyond reasonable doubt.

–

Source: GNA

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The plan, which is expected to span between 2018 and 2022, is a continuation of an earlier strategic plan that ended in 2015.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oU6T7ChpFCDTzsTBuUkfMCG7Tg0yNtSF”]Briefing the media at a validation workshop, the Chairman of the Strategic Plan Technical Working Group, Deputy Commissioner Eric Afari, said the plan will enhance the effectiveness of the Service and end illegal migration.

“We have set for ourselves five main components that would drive the project, we would be looking at the human resource, which is very key to what we do. As an agency, we want to be sure that our laws and policies are in tandem with international migration laws and policies, and so we would be revising our laws and realigning them to ensure that they synchronize with what the ECOWAS and AU have for us as an agency,” he said.

He said they will collaborate with all agencies that deal with migration issues to achieve a common goal.

“We look at infrastructure and stakeholders for operation, we believe that we are managing migration, but this management has to be able to reflect the international situation and so all agencies responsible for migration development would be brought on board,” he said.

The Ghana Immigration Service has assured the public of adequate security along all of the country’s borders.

There have been a number of terrorist attacks in Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and some other West African countries in recent years.

“We may not have all the logistics that we need, but the little that we have and by our training and conduct, we have been able over the years to maintain security at the country’s borders. Just a year ago when Cote D’lvoire was in crisis we were able to maintain sanity at the borders that there was not much spillover,” he said.

–

By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIS to implement 5-yr strategic plan to end illegal migration appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to GIS, Mr. Ashok was living in the country illegally because his work and residence permits had expired since December 15, 2017.

“The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) on Sunday, the 11th of March 2018, repatriated Mr. Ashok Sivaram Kumar, an Indian businessman to his home country on the grounds of expiration of his work and residence permits.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JzSF6DTzDihCUaj3X6Ag3gY83R9OSzJy”]“By section 20(1) of the Immigration Act, 2000 [Act 573], Mr. Ashok Kumar had over stayed his residence permit which expired on 15th December, 2017. This rendered his stay in Ghana illegal. Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, acting in accordance with Section 21 of the Immigration Act, 200 [Act 573] ordered his repatriation. Mr. Ashok Kumar has since been repatriated to his home country,” a statement signed by Head of Public Affairs at GIS, Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta added.

Background

The GIS, following an order by the Interior Ministry in June 2017, deported Mr. Sivaram on the premise that he had forged his marriage certificate in an application for citizenship, which led his lawyer to contest his deportation by seeking judicial review.

The High Court, which first heard the case, upheld the businessman’s application and quashed his deportation order on July 31 on the grounds that the Interior Minister exceeded his jurisdiction.

The applicant, after the failure of the GIS to comply with the first order, sought an order from the court in September the same year to compel them to comply with the first order.

The High Court once again ordered the GIS to restore the Residence and Work Permit of Mr. Sivaram within seven days, and also ordered the GIS’s assigns, agents and servants to desist from harassing him until his application before the Service was duly processed.

The GIS, represented by the Attorney General’s office, after the second case, filed a stay of proceedings at the High Court which was subsequently dismissed.

They went ahead to appeal the ruling in the Court of Appeal which was also dismissed leading them to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court however upheld GIS’s position and quashed the ruling of the High court which had compelled the Immigration Service to restore the work and residence permits of Mr. Ashok Kumar.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Immigration Service justifies deportation of Indian businessman, Ashok appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The protocol of the regional bloc states that citizens of member states are allowed to enter any other ECOWAS country and stay there for up to 90 days without visas.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Kv8Q4B59vQntTiSSmNDpYUxno414Gawe”]According to the Immigration Service’s Head of Public Affairs, Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, the lack of strict rules governing the movement of persons across the borders is hindering the ability of the governments of West African nations to effectively manage entry into their territories.

“It’s not a question of a relaxed border. ECOWAS’ protocol says that citizens of member states can enter without visas and stay for 90 days and are free to move within the country and do whatever they want to do. There’s not enough restriction,” Superintendent Amoako-Atta told Citi News.

He intimated that the re-introduction of visa applications for entry into ECOWAS countries could help contain the numbers making their way across borders in West Africa.

“If you were to apply for a visa, based on information provided on the form you can be denied or approved,” he said.

100 deported

His comments come a day after the GIS announced that it had deported a hundred illegal immigrants from various African countries.

Based on some intelligence, the GIS embarked on swoops in some parts of Accra to apprehend nationals of other countries living in the country without the requisite documents.

Superintendent Amoako-Atta said that the number is a significant rise from similar action in 2016 when 20 immigrants were deported and 2017, which saw 58 people deported.

“We set up our intelligence gathering in some spots in the city and through that, we were able to make a lot of swoops leading to the arrest of mostly African migrants who were in the country and whose stay was in contravention of the immigration laws of the country,” he said.

The Immigration Service has said the deportations were in line with its commitment to support other security agencies to fight crime in the country.

The government has supported the service’s operations with 50 multi-purpose motorcycles to help combat criminal activities at the country’s borders and other entry points.

The news of the deportation follows the surge in criminal activity in some parts of the country resulting in a number of arrests including the detention of 22 Nigerians for allegedly engaging in cyber-crime.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Relaxed ECOWAS policy cause of influx of illegal immigrants – GIS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Justices of the Supreme Court, the High Court judge erred in granting the order of mandamus compelling the Immigration Service to provide the permit.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BvLwu4vaR3NxdDJqEXeOIBuBUDQZlNJj”]They also indicated that the judge exceeded her jurisdiction.

This follows a suit filed by the state seeking to overturn the orders of the High Court which directed the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service to restore the Indian businessman’s residence and work permits.

The Justices also added that the court could not give the Immigration Service such an order in this situation given that the businessman had not gone through the administrative process of getting the revocation of his permits addressed.

Background

The GIS, following an order by the Interior Ministry in June 2017, deported Mr. Sivaram on the premise that he had forged his marriage certificate in an application for citizenship, which led his lawyer to contest his deportation by seeking judicial review.

The High Court, which first heard the case, upheld the businessman’s application and quashed his deportation order on July 31 on the grounds that the Interior Minister exceeded his jurisdiction.

The applicant, after the failure of the GIS to comply with the first order, sought an order from the court in September the same year to compel them to comply with the first order.

The High Court once again ordered the GIS to restore the Residence and Work Permit of Mr. Sivaram, the Indian businessman within seven days and also ordered the GIS’s assigns, agents and servants to desist from harassing him until his application before the Service was duly processed.

The GIS, represented by the Attorney General’s office, after the second case, filed a stay of proceedings at the High Court which was subsequently dismissed.

They went ahead to appeal the ruling in the Court of Appeal which was also dismissed leading to today [Thursday]’s case at the Supreme Court.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Supreme Court quashes restoration of Indian businessman’s permits appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Over the past three months, the Service based on intelligence, embarked on swoops in some parts of Accra, to apprehend illegal immigrants, mainly Africans.

[contextly_sidebar id=”da90S5uKYjOBzXzs4vJ0ptl8MHzVJcqK”]According to the Head of Public Affairs of the GIS, Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, in 2016, 20 of such immigrants were deported, whereas the number went up to 58 in 2017, and now 100 in 2018.

“We set up our intelligence gathering in some spots in the city and through that, we were able to make a lot of swoops leading to the arrest of mostly African migrants who were in the country and whose stay was in contravention of the immigration laws of the country.”

“…So after profiling them, we had to remove them from the jurisdiction. Mostly, the offences ranged from illegal employment, overstaying, some with suspicious characters and some with fraudulent documents,” Supt. Amoako-Atta stated.

The Immigration Service has said the deportations were in line with its commitment to support other security agencies to fight crime in the country.

The government has supported the service’s operations with 50 multi-purpose motorcycles to help combat criminal activities at the country’s borders and other entry points.

The news of the deportation follows the surge in criminal activity particularly armed robbery in some parts of the country.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIS deports 100 illegal African immigrants appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They made the call when the two Security Chiefs paid a day’s working visit to the Aflao-Segbe borders in the Volta Region,and took turns to address personnel of both agencies.

The joint visit by the two forms part of strategies to strengthen the Integrated Border Management (IBM) initiative being adopted by the two agencies, and was also to afford them the opportunity to interact with the personnel.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of CD-GRA underscored the need for personnel of the two agencies to work together in the interest of the country.

He illustrated the bond of friendship that exists between the two security chiefs as an example worthy of emulation by the personnel.

Mr. Isaac Crenstil further emphasized the need for both agencies to share intelligence and work together, adding that, the days of needless rivalry between the two agencies should be a thing of the past.

He noted that the success of the IBM project was dependent on a well-coordinated border management approach. He, therefore, encouraged personnel to emulate the good working relations that existed between the Senior Officers of the two agencies.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, admonished officers to eschew all forms of conflicts and perceived tension that existed between personnel of the two agencies at the border.

He noted that personnel should be mindful of such unnecessary perception, and that such perception could be a reality if not nipped in the bud.

“Perception can be a reality if care is not taken. Allow a sense of unity and purpose to prevail among of you and work in the national interest,” he said.

The Comptroller General intimated that, as a way to strengthen the bond of friendship among the two agencies, a joint end of year get-to-gather (WASSA) should be held among personnel of GIS and CD-GRA at the Aflao Sector Commands, adding that, the migrant band of the GIS will be in attendance to provide good music.

–
By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, Director of Public Affairs at Ghana Immigration Service, Superintendent Amoako Atta also attributed the fact that thousands of forms were purchased to the love of Ghanaians for public sector jobs.

“For this particular recruitment, because we reduced some of the requirements, a lot were able to get in to apply as compared to the previous requirements. And yearly too, recruitment numbers have been increasing depending on the number of graduates that enter into the system. Last year we had about 34,000 applicants,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1yn6k3tci9jWVG2TLLewhVq0qlsxBmUY”]The Immigration Service received about 80,000 applications from people seeking to be enlisted into the service after it announced the commencement of the recruitment exercise in the last quarter of 2017.

This represents a rise of well over 100 percent from the previous year, which saw 34, 000 people apply.

About 47,000 were, however, shortlisted for screening on Thursday, January 4, 2017.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Service has stated that it will recruit only 500 people out of the enormous number of applications received.

When asked whether the huge numbers are unusual and a security threat, Superintendent Amoako Atta said he could not “categorically say it was” but added that “looking at the figures one may be pushed to say so.”

Despite the suggestions that the large numbers which gathered at the various screening centres indicate a worrying unemployment problem, Mr. Amoako Atta was of the view that because other security agencies including Police and Fire Services are also currently recruiting he was hopeful that a lot more will gain employment in the other agencies.

The Immigration Service Public Affairs Director further appealed to private companies to employ more Ghanaians in a bid to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

“It looks like a lot of attention is on public sector employment. There are a lot of opening in the private sector but it looks like everyone wants to get employed in the public sector. So definitely recruitment drive in these areas is always on the high. So that will account for people pushing to the public sector or government employing them and government will certainly not employ all of these numbers looking at the wage bill. So if private sector will also open up and take up some of these numbers, it will balance the recruitment drive on the public side,” he added.

Thousands of job seekers queue for screening

Thousands of potential recruits queued at various allotted centers across the country on Thursday to take part in the screening exercise within the Immigration Service recruitment process.

In the Volta Region for instance, 0ut of the total number of 3,928 applicants from the region, 521 applied as graduates, 372 as Higher National Diploma Holders, and the rest are WASSCE Certificate Holders.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Relaxed requirements responsible for increased applications – GIS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The e-vouchers for the recruitment, which were sold in November 2017, were priced at GHc 50.

A total of 84,637 persons applied to be employed by the service, across the country, of which 47,477 were shortlisted for the second phase of the selection process.

Only 500 of this number will eventually be selected nationwide.

This phase of the recruitment process runs from January 4 to January 5, 2018.

The bulk of the of the applications for this year’s exercise was received from the Greater Accra Region, followed by the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions.

About 15,000 hopeful applicants in Greater Accra Region alone have converged on the El Wak Stadium in Accra for the recruitment procedure to enroll into the Ghana Immigration Service.

The phase two of the recruitment comprised a physical screening and document verification screening exercise, which started on Thursday, January 4, 2018, and will end on Friday, January 5, 2018 with an aptitude test.

The persons applied as graduates, Higher National Diploma Holders and WASSCE Certificate Holders.

The Immigration Service’s decision to automate the recruitment process was anchored on the relative success of the process used in recent police and fire service recruitment exercises.

The use of the online portals and e-vouchers was to make the process more transparent and discourage the payment of bribes and the use of middlemen who defraud potential recruits.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Immigration Service to bag GHc4.2m from recruitment exercise appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Attorney General, it has filed an appeal against the decision quashing the deportation order, and wants the restoration order put on hold till the Court of Appeal makes a determination of their case.

It also stated as part of their case that, if the restoration order is allowed to stand, it will serve as precedence for others to use the court to get legally revoked permits overturned.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LXifFZHjFMM4QC150oWktFvPtbjrjHfC”]The High Court last week ordered the Immigration service to restore the work and residence permit of Mr. Sivaram within seven days, after months of failing to do so, despite a decision quashing his deportation due to its illegal nature.

The court on July 31, 2017, quashed the deportation of Mr. Sivaram by the Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry.

According to the court, the Interior Minister exceeded his jurisdiction by determining fraud against the Indian businessman without recourse to the court.

But Mr. Sivaram, since his return to the country, has not been given a visa despite a court order.

The Indian businessman has also petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to call the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service to order over what he termed as harassment by the two.

Mr. Sivaram said he was constantly being harassed by officials of the Ghana Immigration Service, and he believes his frustrations are part of a grand scheme to transfer interests in his company, Jai Mai Communications Limited, to his business partner.

The Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Kwame Asuah Takyi, has however rejected accusations that he is conniving with the Interior Minister to frustrate the Indian businessman.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AG files stay of execution in GIS vs Indian businessman case appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.