The Airport Currency Probes
A Touch Of Nokoko By Kofi Akumanyi
There is another type of probe which has been around for quite some time and involves only a certain group of people. In Ghana, over the past few years, these probes have been going on quietly and those who are unfortunate to undergo the humiliation often survive to complain loudly only when it results in certain unintended consequences, in which case, the government comes out to denounce the practice.
If you have not guessed what this is all about then perhaps the US-based Ghanaian professor's case would help clarify the probe issue.
It was widely reported recently in the Ghanaian papers that Professor Kodjo Quarcoo who failed to declare all the foreign currency on him on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport cannot return to his job at the New York University in the U.S. until after five years. His passport would be returned after he had served at any of Ghana's universities for a period of five years.
The airport's instant probe had discovered the foreign currency hidden in a tin of talcum powder - a serious offence which has been dealt with in a revolutionary manner. Fortunately, he, being a man found a less ingenious way of hiding the money.
However, probes at the international airport to discover imaginative ways of transporting currency (and drugs) have resulted in the very embarrassing and humiliating situations.
Check this story also from the Ghana Christian Messenger of July/August 1984 told by an American couple at Kotoka International Airport. When Mr and Mrs Crompton travelling from Birmingham, England, arrived at the International Airport "we did not see anyone in uniform - nor any instructions, so we just followed the crowd along. There were several men with stocks of cards and one young man gave us cards which we discovered to be cards to fill out to enter the country. We then filled out the travel form declaring all our foreign currency, and presented our passports and visas. We willingly cooperate in the checking of our luggage and purse.
"After the second check of the luggage we were carrying" their letter to the paper continued, "we were instructed to go into a small cubicle behind a curtain. My examination here was not unusual in any way, but the body check that my wife was subjected to was most humiliating in that the private parts of her body and clothing were examined and searched in an unprofessional and non-hygienic way..."
I have not had the displeasure of being searched in that way by the Ghana customs officers, but a lady I know who was nearly subjected to this extraordinary physical examination after a long and tiring flight described the procedure as follows:
"Welcome to our country. I hope you enjoy your stay," the two custom officers said genially.
"Thanks, I'm sure I will. I've heard so much about your country and its beautiful people".
"Have you anything else to declare?" one asked.
"Nothing, Sir, I've been checked out already," she replied.
"I'm sorry, we'll have to check you out again. It won't take a minute if you cooperate with us," he says, shoving her into a cubicle.
"What kind of check is this? My luggage has been checked and rechecked. What are you looking for anyway," she said, obviously getting annoyed.
"We want to conduct a further examination on your body."
"Which part of my body."
"Well, holes and crevices."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, this lady customs officer would search deeper recesses of your body to see if you've hidden something there. As a matter of fact we've caught a few otherwise respectable women... “
"I absolutely refuse to have anybody poke his or her fingers into me," she screamed.
"There's no need to shout. We've been doing this for years and there’s nothing special about you," the customs officers rudely shouted back
"Not bloody likely. Besides, I would like to know if there is any doctor around here?"
"We don't need one. We are perfectly capable of handling this," the man said. His lecherous smile stretched from one ear to the other.
"How very embarrassing! In all my travels around the world I haven't been treated so shabbily as you people are doing."
"This is Africa. Would you please remove your clothes and stretch out on that table," the man said, putting on a torn and obviously overused pair of gloves.
"I'll definitely not do any such thing You see, it's that time of the month," she said desperately searching for a way out of the tight corner."
"You're wasting our time. This time of the month is a busy one for us all."
"No, you don't understand. I mean the time of the month for women.”
"Oh come on. My wife also experiences it and I'm therefore very conversant with the issue. Besides, you may be hiding something in there all the same," one of them said and appeared serious.
"This is getting more and more ridiculous. And look at your hands and this place. Absolutely unhygienic!"
"Look Madam, we're not here to conduct an open heart surgical operation or anything of that sort. We only I want to see if, like some women who pass through here, you have undeclared item like foreign currency, gold, diamond, drugs etc, etc, hidden inside your watcha-callit!"
"Over my dead body! I want to see a solicitor! This is demeaning and degrading. An affront to all women!"
"Oh shut up and open up..."
The struggle that ensued resulted in all involved sustaining serious bruises. The probe, however, could not be conducted under the circumstances.
