Minister calls for blockage of unapproved entry points at border points

Hamile, (U/W), May 30,GNA - Mr. Martin Amidu, Minister of the Interior, has appealed to security agencies stationed at the country's entry points to block all unapproved routes to prevent people from entering the country illegally.

He said the existence of these unapproved entry points among others, was also denying government a significant amount of revenue needed to develop the country. Mr. Amidu was addressing personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service at the Hamile Border Post during his visit to the border on Friday. The Interior Minister said government recognized the significant impact of revenue generated from these borders to the national budget and would therefore ensure that security agencies working at these borders were properly resourced to work efficiently. Mr. Amidu said the Hamile Border Post served as a major entry point between Ghana and Burkina Faso and said security personnel stationed there had a responsibility of ensuring that only eligible people were allowed into the country.

He therefore urged the personnel to exercise high sense of discipline and commitment to maintain the border as one of the safest place to protect the integrity of the nation. On the demarcation of borders, Mr. Amidu said a new Border Demarcation Committee had been set up by government to ensure that all borders across the country were properly demarcated.

He therefore urged them to continue to dialogue with the residents around the border to avoid any conflicts while waiting for it to be properly demarcated.

He indicated that Ghana was now moving into an oil economy and government needed peace to be able to use the oil revenue to develop the country, adding that no nation could develop under an atmosphere of insecurity.

Mr. Amidu noted that government was committed to improving on the working conditions of security personnel and as a result it would soon provide them with vehicles to enhance their operations. He added that the Immigration Head Office was holding discussions with donor communities to provide them with communication equipment to ensure that all the Immigration Offices were networked to enhance proper documentation of vital information.

He said a mechanism will soon be put in place to provide training for security personnel to build their capacity to diligently do their work. Mr. Ernest Dickson, Hamile Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, complained about the interference of residents with their work and the porous nature of the border and appealed to the Minister for help and direction. He thanked the Minister for the visit and said he and his colleague staff would work harder to generate enough revenue to support government to deliver its better Ghana agenda. Addressing personnel of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, Mr. Amidu promised that the government would supply them with logistics. He added that 40 per cent of the affordable housing facilities would be allocated to Security Agencies.