Require a legal stay of foreigners before renting properties – GIS

General News of Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-02-19

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has asked property owners and landowners to require proof of residence or legal residence of foreign nationals before leasing their property.

The GIS warned that it would start suing the owners and owners who rent their facilities to foreigners without proper immigration documents.

According to the GIS, it was illegal for owners and owners to engage in such practices and the law would soon catch recalcitrant owners.

Law

A statement issued by the GIS in Accra and signed by the Comptroller General, Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, stated that the use of such property by people residing illegally in the country made them responsible for the misdemeanor. accommodation of a clandestine migrant, stipulated in paragraph 52 (1) (b) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573).

"Paragraph 52 (1) (b) states that a person who knowingly houses a person whom she knows that she is about to be deported or who has reasonable grounds to believe that he has acted in violation of this law commits an offense and is liable to a fine exceeding 1,000 GH ¢ or imprisonment for up to two years or both, "he added.

According to the statement, properties and residences occupied by illegal foreign migrants were used in most cases to commit crimes against the state, including cyber fraud.

Following this development, he indicated that the GIS would conduct checks on the premises of the owners and owners and therefore urged them to cooperate fully with the IMIS agents.

"We also note that the non-compliance or non-compliance with any obligation or direction imposed by the Immigration Act is an offense," he said.

"Allow officers to do their job"

Hindering or preventing a GIS officer from fulfilling his legal duty to verify a place is an offense under the Immigration Act, he added.

"From the presentation of a service identity card, the general public is therefore invited to cooperate with all immigration officers who go to their premises to carry out checks." Severe sanctions will be applied to all those who break the law by preventing the immigration agent (s) from fulfilling his legal obligations, "the statement said.

Mental Health

Director Michael Amoako-Attah, head of GIS Public Affairs, told Daily Graphic journalist Salomey Appiah-Adjei that GIS has always visited various places suspected of harboring foreign nationals in order to carry out searches. controls. their documents in accordance with the law.

He added that the practice of harboring illegal immigrants has led to an increase in crime, as their activities can not be traced or monitored.

"We work with the law, but it seems that every time we impose the regulation, most homeowners are not aware that they are supposed to check residence permits when foreign nationals come to rent their premises." , he explained. .

Superintendent Amoako-Attah further advised landowners and landowners to require pbadports from foreign nationals and to look for a GIS vignette indicating a license.