GSA Calls For Repeal Of Illegal Migrants� Law

Illegal Migration or what is commonly known as "stowaway' is one of the major challenges confronting the maritime industry. However, some stakeholders are calling for strict measures to be taken, especially by the Judicial Service of Ghana, in order to ensure some sanity in the maritime industry. Speaking in an interview with the media, shortly after a seminar organized by the Ghana Shippers Authority, (GSA) in collaboration with the Judiciary Training Institute last Friday in Tema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority, (GSA), Dr. Kofi Mbiah called on the Judicial Service to repeal the law in administering justice for illegal migrants. He emphasized that stiffer punishments should be given to illegal migrants to serve as a deterrent to others. "'Stowaways' are aware of the risk that they are taking, however, if there is no deterrent, nothing would stop them from migrating to other parts of the world illegally. "To act as a deterrent, therefore, it is important to review the law, so that stiffer punishments are given to them." Dr. Mbiah stressed. In the development of the law, 'stole away' is being considered as a lower crime, explaining that the punishment that goes with it is just a fine. When illegal migrants are apprehended and brought before the court, they are fined just GH�250.00. Presently, however, the status of illegal migration has changed and consequently, there is the need for the law to reform as well. Stole away today is seen as a more serious offence as it used to be in most parts of the world, specifically in the United State of America and the United Kingdom. If an illegal migrant is found in a ship in those parts of the world, the shipper is fined a huge amount of money ranging between US $ 5,000 and US $10,000, for each stole away, which as a result has become a serious issue for ship owners. When ship owners are confronted with stole ways, they are confronted with the only option of throwing them into the sea. Adding his voice to the serious situation, the Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Richard Anamo also expressed concern about the situation saying that some few days ago at Takoradi, about five illegal migrants boarded a bauxite vessel. Reaching the middle of the sea, it was detected that some people were in the vessel, when the vessel was made to return, two of the illegal immigrants sensing danger, decided to jump into the sea, and one could not make it after being rescued. A similar situation took place at the Tema port, and 8 of them were subsequently arrested after security detected they were in an empty container. Mr. Anamo also called on the Judicial Service to modify the law, and increase the fines for stole aways when brought before them. The seminar brought together judges selected from superior courts, to sensitize the judiciary service on the operations of the port to guide them in their judicial decision making. The program took the judiciary through theoretical and practical aspect of the operations of the GPHA to have a feel of the ground to appreciate the practical reality of the industry. Some judges at the seminar described the occasion as an eye opener, very practical, and educative, which they highly recommended. They also familiarized themselves with the port, and saw for themselves the happenings in the port domain, including a cruise on the sea.