The Bono East Immigration Service has arrested and repatriated 80 citizens from Togo who used unapproved routes to enter the region amidst the closure of borders due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Superintendent for the Bono East Immigration Command, Enoch Abrokwah Annor who confirmed the arrest during an interview on Adomnews disclosed that a similar event occurred in February this year.

According to him, the Service is up to the task in ensuring that no individual or group through Techiman would make Ghana their transit point to other neighboring countries in such times of a deadly pandemic.

He said: "The message we want to put out there is, for now, all land borders are closed per the directives of the president. Anyone who will decide to use any other alternative aside from the airports, when caught will be dealt with accordingly.

"Those coming from Burkina Faso, Togo Cote d'Ivoire are persons giving us issues. I want to tell such persons that until the president gives a different directive, the land border remains closed."

Chief Superintendent Enoch Abrokwah Annor further dismissed allegations that some officials in the Immigration Service receive money from unauthorised travellers who enter the country.

"It is an allegation but for me, I do not believe this. From earlier investigations on persons arrested earlier, we realised that people use this as their livelihood. There is an agent who rounds up these people and informs drivers that they have these clients who are heading to Cote d'Ivoire," he added.

He, therefore, urged the executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and drivers to be alert and also care to find out if their passengers are Ghanaians or not.

Mr Enoch Abrokwah Annor gave the assurance that the necessary steps have been put together to ensure no one leaves or enters the country through the land borders.