102 unapproved border routes uncovered in Volta Region - Muntaka

Minister of the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that his outfit has identified 102 unapproved border routes in the Volta Region alone.

Speaking before Parliament's Assurances Committee on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, he said the discovery illustrates the scale of the challenge confronting security agencies in safeguarding the country's borders.

According to him, Ghana currently operates 48 legitimate border crossing points, but the numerous unofficial routes pose a significant security threat.

"We have 48 legitimate crossing points into our country but the illegitimate ones… we were shocked to realise that the last time I was in the Volta Region alone, we identified 102 unapproved routes," he indicated.

Muntaka noted that the challenge is not limited to the Volta Region, explaining that other border regions, including the Upper East, Upper West, Bono and Western regions, also have several unapproved entry points that require increased surveillance.

He warned that if the illegal routes are not secured, Ghana could become a transit hub for international criminal syndicates.

"If we don't focus on trying to secure even these unapproved routes, what is going to simply happen is that we'll become a transit point; they can use us as a transit point," he cautioned.

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Muntaka explained that criminal networks could avoid the country's official entry points by using the unofficial routes to transport illicit goods into and through Ghana.

To address the situation, he said security agencies have established 63 inland checkpoints to complement border surveillance and enhance intelligence gathering.

"As we speak, we have about 63 inland checkpoints," he said.

While acknowledging public concerns about the number of checkpoints on major roads, Muntaka maintained that they remain an essential component of Ghana's national security strategy.

He, however, urged security personnel to minimise inconvenience to travellers by relying more on intelligence-led operations.

Muntaka further appealed to the public to support the country's border security efforts by providing timely information to the security agencies.

MRA/VPO

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