US-Ghana Security Governance Initiative to hold seminar on regional border security

As part of the efforts to address threats that affect Ghana’s border security the Ghana-US Security Government Initiative (SGI) is set to hold a seminar that seeks to address best practices in border security.

In order to address the challenges, the National Border Security Technical Working Group (NBSTWG) has collaborated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Advisor and experts to address and resolve some of the issues that affect Ghana’s border security.

Some of the threats on the borders include smuggling, transnational criminal organizations, human trafficking, and the lack of collaboration, coordination, and lapses in the integrity and transparency of operations.

The SGI is focused on developing and adopting an integrated approach to border management, through a unified, collaborative, and sustainable concept;

It also seeks to enhance command presence at the border through better operations, coordination, and communication.

The Seminar will involve chiefs from Ghana, Togo, Cote I’voire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Kenya.

The Regional Seminar will also demonstrate Ghana’s understanding that border security is inherently a regional issues that requires multi-lateral cooperation, robust intelligence, information sharing, efficiency, and appropriate information technology tools in order to achieve and maintain success.

The seminar is scheduled for August 27th to 30th August 2018.

below is the full statement

US – GHANA SECURITY GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE (SGI) REGIONAL BORDER SECURITY SEMINAR-27th -31ST AUGUST, 2018

In 2014, the United States and six countries – Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Tunisia, agreed to partnerships to improve the security sector of their respective governments. To this end, the Security Government Initiative (SGI) was launched. In 2016, Ghana and the United States signed a Joint Country Action Plan (JCAP), which identified three priority areas of the partnership which are: Maritime Security, Border Security, and Cyber Security. A fourth cross-cutting focus area, Administration of Justice, was later added to provide holistic coverage on the range of issues that impact these sectors.

The SGI approach is based on the recognition that sustainable solutions to security-sector challenges require the vison and commitment of multiple stakeholders. The approach focuses on the partner countries’ priorities where U.S. assistance can have the most impact, and where it can complement and leverage other efforts in the country.

In Ghana, threats impacting border security were from cross-border crimes, smuggling, transnational criminal organizations, human trafficking, and the lack of collaboration, coordination, and lapses in the integrity and transparency of operations. Through SGI, the Government of Ghana established a National Border Security Technical Working Group (NBSTWG) to work with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Advisor and experts to address and resolve these challenges. The team has undertaken many constructive steps towards the following stated goals:

1. Develop and adopt an integrated approach to border management, through a unified, collaborative, and sustainable concept;

2. Enhance command presence at the border through better operations, coordination, and communication;

3. Increase operational capacity of border agencies actors through improved professionalization, integrity, and interagency cooperation; and

4. Increase capacity to manage border enforcement cases.

The Border Focus Area of SGI is focused on achieving these strategic objectives and has convened Ghana border security strategic partners to share its border enhancements concept and experiences, and also to identify opportunities for collaboration. Ghana recognizes the Economic Community of West Africa States’ protocols that affect borders, as well as the mutual benefits through the shared border communities. Ghana also strongly endorses and advances policies that reinforce the principles of the Africa Union relating to greater integration, improved cross-border trade, and safe and secure legitimate movement of people across the borders. It also supports the regional and global efforts to combat and deny transnational criminal organizations from exploiting the borders and cause harm to citizens of all nations.

The Regional seminar which takes place from 27th to 31st August, 2018 involves security chiefs from Ghana, Togo, Cote I’voire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Kenya. The regional character of the seminar demonstrates Ghana understanding that border security is inherently a regional issue that requires multi-lateral cooperation, robust intelligence, information sharing, efficiency, and appropriate information technology tools in order to achieve and maintain success.

The National Security Coordinator of Ghana, Joshua Kyeremeh is scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Africa, more than any other region of the world, is most positioned to exemplify best practices in border security and management that are rooted on our common development desires and respect of the unique conditions at its borders.

OSEI BONSU DICKSON, ESQ

SGI National Coordinator Tel: 0501440394 obdiickson@gmail.com