Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye
The Ghana Police Service, Narcotics Control Board, Bureau of National Investigations, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), have established a joint force to strengthen their cooperation towards protecting the country’s borders and sustaining solutions to security-sector challenges that require the vision and commitment of multiple stakeholders.
The State security agencies signed a Memoranda of Agreement (MoA) on Thursday January 24, to enable them establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that would guide them in their respective functions.
At the ceremony which took place in Accra, Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye said the Agreement between the Agencies would serve as a legal framework for management of activities across the country's territorial boarders.
He indicated that, with the emerging threats surrounding the country's borders, no state security agency can singlehandedly operate successfully except they join forces with others to counter such coercion.
Prof. Mike Oquaye went further to note that the rise in terrorism among neighbouring countries calls for great concern hence the need for a collaboration to ensure the total security of human lives.
“The increase of terrorism calls for great security concern which requires global assistance to enhance security and growth at the borders. Good governance would be assured when our borders are safe and this partnership between our security agencies would be needed to guide and manage our security activities”. He stated.
Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr Isaac Crentsil also mentioned that the Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept is one of the best approaches to address and facilitate border movement activities.
He said the establishment of a National, regional and Entry point Boader Security Committee would propel better results in the areas of cyber, land and maritime safety in the country
Following recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Ghana has taken steps to tighten security in the country, particularly at its borders.
The signing of the agreement also forms part of the Security Governance Initiative (SGI), a United States ‘Project aimed at addressing security challenges of some selected African countries including Ghana.
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.
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.
