MONROVIA,LIBERIA-Five Ghanaians have been arrested by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) assigned in the township of West Point in Monrovia for illegally entering Liberia.

The Head of Press and Public Affairs at the LIS, Abraham Dolley, said the five Ghanaians are currently with health workers undergoing quarantine for the COVID-19 virus.

Mr. Dolley told ELBC over the weekend that following checks by health workers, the five will be turned over to the LIS for immigration formalities.

He said: “The arrest was made by the help of the Armed Forces of Liberia Coast Guard”.

Mr. Dolley also disclosed plan by the LIS to increase surveillance in the West Point area, as it is another point of illegal entry into the Country.

In a related development, seven Ghanaians are currently in jail in Nimba County for reportedly refusing to adhere to Liberia’s health preventive measures put in place by Government.

According to the Incident Management Team Deputy for Operations, Thomas Nagbe, the Ghanaians were arrested by the State Security.

Mr. Nagbe said:” They passed through the Ivory Coast and entered Liberia through many of the illegal crossing points”.

He said at present there are scores of Ghanaians at the Liberia-Ivory Coast Border who have been stopped by surveillance officers from entering Liberia.

He said:” Though Government has closed all its major entry points, including airports, those foreign nationals are using the illegal points to enter the Country”.

He spoke Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the start of a five-day National COVID-19 Response Training organized by the Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Meanwhile, the National Traditional Council of Liberia has ordered the practices of all Sandi and Poro activities temporarily suspended across the Country.

The Council said the move is intended to allow traditional leaders and their members to abide by the approved health protocols, irrespective of affiliations.

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the National Chairman of the Council, Chief Zanzan Kawor, also appealed to the religious community to respect Government’s temporary closure order of worship services to halt the spread of the virus.

Chief Kawor, however, countered critics engaged in defiant posture to desist and cooperate in the interest of the Country.

Meanwhile, Chief Kawor is proposing to Government for the holding of a National Consultative Meeting of heads of traditional leaders in Monrovia to intervene.