There’s a difference between deportation and repatriation – Oppong Nkrumah defends Akufo-Addo’s Aisha Huang comment

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the comment by President Akufo-Addo regarding the deportation of Aisha Huang is because she was repatriated and not deported.

President Akufo-Addo in an interview on a Ho based radio earlier today had said he was unsure whether Aisha Huang was deported or fled the country.

The comment has received intense public criticisms and questions on whether or not the President and his government are committed to the fight against galamsey.

But in a series of tweets, the information minister said “the reason for the President’s comment is that there is a difference between deportation and repatriation.”

He added that while the Minister for the Interior can deport, the immigration service can only repatriate and not deport.

“The instrument which the Immigration Service uses in such circumstances is a repatriation notice,” Oppong Nkrumah noted.

He maintained that “either way, the effect was that she was caused to exit from Ghana at the material moment.”

His comments come at a time when Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for an independent probe into circumstances leading to the re-arrest of the galamsey queen.