Ghana Immigration Service Fined GH₵960k for Wrongful Detention of Traveller
The High Court in Accra has ruled that the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) must pay GH₵960,000 in damages and costs for unlawfully detaining a Ghanaian traveller, Kwabena Baffour Asare.
The wrongful detention caused Mr. Baffour Asare to miss his return flight to Germany, resulting in the termination of his job there.
The incident occurred at Kotoka International Airport in June 2022 when GIS officers mistakenly identified Mr. Baffour Asare as a wanted individual, “Kwabena Asare.”
Despite presenting police clearance confirming his innocence, immigration officials prevented him from boarding his rescheduled flight, only releasing him after police confirmation arrived on June 20, by which time he had already lost his employment.
The court awarded GH₵910,000 in damages and an additional GH₵50,000 in legal costs. Justice Ayitey Armah-Tetteh, who presided over the case, criticised the GIS for displaying a lack of sensitivity, noting that officers should have acted prudently when presented with the police clearance document.
The judge ruled that the GIS acted negligently, violating Mr. Baffour Asare’s right to freedom of movement.
GIS defended its actions by claiming its system had flagged Mr. Baffour Asare’s name due to a 94 percent similarity match with the wanted person.
The service argued it was only after official police confirmation that Mr. Baffour Asare was cleared. However, the court found that GIS officers had acted without due diligence, leading to unnecessary hardship for the plaintiff.
This ruling highlights the critical importance of due process and accuracy in law enforcement operations, especially when such actions can have severe consequences on individuals’ lives and livelihoods.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
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