Shalimar Abbiusi
In latest development, legal proceedings have commenced against Shalimar Abbiusi, a 30-year-old Belgian national and spokesperson for the new political group, The New Force.
She faces charges related to falsifying documents in order to obtain a resident permit in Ghana.
Abbiusi, who can be seen in a video on social media promoting The New Force, is accused of violating section 52 (1) (i) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573), which involves “Obtaining for Yourself a Student Permit by False Declaration.”
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) claims that Abbiusi falsely declared herself a student of Ghana Christian University College in the Greater Accra Region in an attempt to evade legal requirements. It is alleged that she knowingly made a false declaration, which enabled her to acquire a student permit with the number 0088754.
Legal proceedings were initiated by the GIS on December 6, 2023, and the case is currently being heard in the District Court of Kaneshie, Accra.
According to reports, Abbiusi was arrested after being summoned by the Head of the National Enforcement Section at the Immigration Headquarters to address concerns regarding her immigration status in Ghana.
The GIS became aware of Abbiusi’s activities through social media, where she announced the formation of The New Force and identified herself as one of its spokespersons.
Investigations revealed that Abbiusi first entered Ghana in 2017 and had been a regular visitor until 2018 when she claimed to become a resident due to her enrollment at Ghana Christian University College. However, investigations conducted by the college confirmed that she had never been a student, and documents provided in support of her residence permit application were found to be forged.
Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full extent of the issues surrounding the emergence of The New Force political group.
Abbiusi has been charged and is currently facing court proceedings. The prosecution has requested for her remand into Immigration custody to facilitate further investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, The New Force released an unsigned press statement on December 7, expressing concerns over Abbiusi’s arrest and detention.
In the statement, the political movement alleged that she was arrested on December 4 and has been held in custody by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) without formal charges.
They further claimed that she was denied access to legal representation, subjected to an unlawful search of her premises, and held beyond the legal 48-hour limit.
The New Force argued that Abbiusi’s arrest is politically motivated and constitutes an abuse of power.
They criticized the government for vandalizing their billboards and called for a different kind of politics in Ghana.
The group assured the public that the international community is closely monitoring the situation and expects a swift and fair resolution.
As the court proceedings continue, the public awaits further updates regarding this high-profile case.
By Vincent Kubi