The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has provided an explanation for the arrest and subsequent repatriation of Ms. Shalimar Abbuisi, a Belgian national and spokesperson for The New Force, a new political group in Ghana.

According to GIS, the Comptroller-General revoked Ms. Abbuisi's residence permit in accordance with Section 20 (2)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2000, Act 573.

The GIS in a press statement noted that she had obtained her student permit by "fraudulent misrepresentation”, and that “Per the law, Ms Shalimar Abbiusi could not remain in Ghana, and the Comptroller-General ordered her removal from the country."

The New Force spokesperson was repatriated on December 19, 2023 aboard Air Brussels Flt. No. SN 319 back to her home country.”

This followed her re-arrest on December 19, after the Ghana Immigration Service revoked her permit.

The Kaneshie District Court discharged the Belgian national on Tuesday as state prosecutors decided to drop the charge related to obtaining a student permit under false declaration.

Shalimar, as per the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), had stated in her documents that she was a student of the Ghana Christian University College. However, upon investigation, this claim was found to be false.

Despite being relieved when the charges were dropped, Shalimar's freedom was short-lived as she was re-arrested. The state had made travel arrangements, giving her 24 hours to leave the country.

In response, lead counsel for Shalimar Abbiusi, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has described as disgraceful the manner in which his client was forced to leave the country following a legal case.

Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, while engaging the media said this act contravenes her fundamental human rights, as she should have been allowed to choose her destination since she was not deported.

“I picked information that sometime last night, she was being escorted to board the Brussels Airline to Belgium. But clearly, this is so shameful and disgraceful.

“Because she was not deported from Ghana and there was no deportation order by the Minister but an Executive Instrument. So holding her and even denying her access to her lawyers and even her Family and escorting her with men in uniform was a violation. When you revoked the person’s visa and said that leave our jurisdiction within 24 hours, she could move from Ghana to Togo. She has the Liberty to move anywhere else that she can go," he said.