Tricycle rider jailed for smuggling four Nigeriens into Ghana

A 32-year-old Nigerien tricycle rider, Mustapha Usman, has been sentenced to seven months in prison for facilitating the unlawful entry of four Nigerien nationals into Ghana.

The Denu Circuit Court handed down the sentence after Usman pleaded guilty to charges of migrant smuggling and causing a false representation to be made. The sentences—three months for migrant smuggling and four months for false representation—will run concurrently.

According to the prosecution, Usman, who resides in Togo, was engaged by the four migrants to help them enter Ghana. They allegedly agreed to pay him GH¢200 each to transport them from the Lagos Lorry Park in Lomé to Kojoviakope, near the Aflao Beat Six area.

The prosecution told the court that after arriving at Kojoviakope, Usman contacted an accomplice identified as Remy, who is currently at large, to assist with getting the migrants across the border.

In an attempt to evade immigration checks, the four Nigeriens were allegedly hidden inside the bucket of Usman’s tricycle and covered, making the vehicle appear empty.

The prosecution said Remy later arranged for another tricycle rider to transport the loaded vehicle into Ghana while he and Usman monitored the operation from a distance.

The tricycle crossed into Ghana at about 6:30 p.m. but was intercepted by Ghana Immigration Service officers around Beat Seven.

The other rider reportedly fled the scene, while Usman later appeared and identified himself as the owner of the tricycle.

Investigators subsequently questioned the four migrants, who reportedly told authorities that they had each contributed towards the GH¢200 payment made to Usman.

Usman was arrested by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service, Aflao Sector Command, and was prosecuted under provisions of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), as amended.

The court ordered that he be returned to the custody of the Aflao Police Station pending his transfer to Ho Central Prison.

Meanwhile, the four Nigerien migrants have been repatriated.