Twenty-seven people from Nigeria and Niger have been arrested by immigration officers at the Akanu border in the Volta region.

They were caught after they attempted to flee the country to their homeland on Tuesday morning.

The suspects who were all male were being transported in a cargo truck loaded with onions from Accra to Nigeria.

The arrest comes in the wake of the closure of Ghana’s ports and borders by President Akufo-Addo as part of measures to check the spread of Covid-19.

Currently, Ghana has recorded 5,918 confirmed cases of the virus with 31 deaths.

Head of Immigration at the Akanu border, Felix Adzimah said it took the vigilance of his men to intercept the truck.

1,089 foreigners intercepted in Bono Region alone since closure of borders

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has revealed that it has intercepted and repatriated 1,089 foreign nationals who entered the Bono Region since the closure of the country’s borders.

In an interview with Joy News, the Immigration Regional Commander, Charles Yaw Bediako said the Service arrested these illegal migrants at various checkpoints in the region.

Breaking it down, he said GIS officers of Gonokrom has intercepted 62, Nkrankwanta; 221, Sampa; 272, Kofibadukrom; 133, Atronie; 17, Yawhima; 5, Tainso; 65, Abesim; 1, Berekum; 125, Atuna; 63,  Kwameseikrom; 125.

He made this revelation to Joy News’ Precious Semevor when the Immigration Service at Kato checkpoint arrested 20 foreign nationals for entering the country illegally.