Shalimar Abbiusi, the spokesperson for the emerging political movement New Force, made an appearance in court today, Monday, December 11, 2023.
This follows her arrest and subsequent charge of obtaining a student permit through a false declaration.
The group had previously expressed their concerns about this development in a press release issued on December 7. Last week, the Kaneshie District Court granted the prosecution a few days to conclude their investigations and remanded the accused into custody until today’s court appearance.
This morning, Ms. Abbiusi was accompanied by officers from the National Bureau of Investigations as she arrived at the court premises. Some aggrieved persons were seen holding placards with messages such as ‘Justice for Shallie’.
Tru News Report previously revealed that Abbiusi was taken into custody during an investigation into her immigration status in the country. The Immigration Service became aware of Abbiusi’s activities on social media, particularly her role as the spokesperson for “The New Force.”
The arrest was made after the Head of the National Enforcement Section at the Immigration Headquarters invited Abbiusi to address concerns regarding her immigration status.
Further investigations revealed that Abbiusi first arrived in Ghana on September 4, 2017, through the Kotoka International Airport and had been a frequent visitor until 2018, when she claimed to be a student at the Ghana Christian University College.
However, the college confirmed that Abbiusi had never been a student, and the documents she presented to support her application for a residence permit were found to be forged. As a result, Abbiusi now faces charges related to immigration offences and has been brought before the court for remand into immigration custody.
Ms. Abbiusi’s arbitrary detention, per the New Forces’ press release, raises serious concerns about power abuse, persecution of perceived political opponents, and multiple human rights violations.
