Ghana�s Immigration Laws Not Lax On Foreigners � GIS

The Ghana Immigration Service says contrary to widely held speculations, the nation's Immigration laws remain firm on the entry level of foreigners into the labour market. According to recent media reports, foreigners have invaded sectors of the economy reserved exclusively for Ghanaians, with some Chinese engaging in illegal mining activities. Vice President John Dramani Mahama over the weekend cautioned foreigners involved in such illegal activities to cease their operations. According to him, perpetrators will be severely dealt with when apprehended. The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service, Francis Palmdetti in an interview with Citi News said the service is working to ensure that all foreigners operating businesses in Ghana are well regulated. According to him, �the task force is out there to check that non-Ghanaians do not engage in any illegal activity so it is not the reinforcement agencies that are not enforcing the law.� Palmdetti further urged the general public to be vigilant and report any suspected illegal activity by any foreigner. This he said will support the security agencies to curb this practice. Meanwhile, the Executive Director for Third World Network, Dr. Yaw Graham, opined that the approach adopted by government does not have major failings. �We cannot expect a short term and immediate solution but a comprehensive one which cheeses out all the different aspects of this problem because foreigners and legality issues is a part of a larger and more comprehensive project of creating a better enabling environment for small scale businesses,� he said.