Terrorism: Immigration officers should develop closer ties with border communities

Mr Peter Claver Nantou, Volta Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has tasked officers of the Service at the borders to develop closer ties with border communities to discover 'strange characters'.

He said the country was facing the reality of terrorism and challenged the officers to use their soft skills and other resources to protect the country.

Mr Nantou said this when he engaged officers of the Nyive Sector Command of the GIS during a tour of border entry points in the Ho Municipality.

He also asked the communities to be keen on suspicious individuals and report strange activities to the security agencies.

The Regional Commander said lower entry points and unapproved routes could become attractive to terrorists as security is tightened at the 'main gates', and asked security agents not to take chances on crossing entities.

He asked Immigration officers to carry out their duties free of political influence, saying "Mother Ghana is your political party and you must not bear any political party tag".

Mr Nantou also said the code of discipline of the Service remained high, and that, officers who failed to conduct themselves professionally would not be spared.

Mr Anthony Setordzie, Nyive Sector Commander described the security situation in the area as "calm", and that checkpoints were being established at vantage points.

He said the Command had arrested cocoa smugglers in Shia, child traffickers at Honuta, as well as secessionists at Kpedze, and appealed for motorbikes to monitor unapproved routes.

The Regional Commander, during the tour, called on officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and asked them to work closely with other border agencies.