Border closure directive not strictly implemented at Akanu Border Post

Correspondence from Volta Region:

Two months ago, the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed all entry points in the country to be closed to both human and vehicular traffics.

This directive is to prevent the spread as well as the importation of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic into the country.

The implementation of the directive at the Akanu border post which is in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region has become ineffective as people cross the border from either side despite the president’s directive still in effect.

GhanaWeb reporter who was at the border post on May 29, 2020, reported that people either walking or on motorbikes cross the border into either country without any hindrances from the Customs and Immigrations officers of both countries. With seconds of explanation to questions, an officer is likely to ask, one would have his or her way into both countries.

Many people who fear using the main border post resort to using an untarred road which is just adjacent to the walls of the entire facility. This untarred road also has an unmanned checkpoint which was initially controlled by Togo Police officers.

A young man who also crossed together with GhanaWeb reporter without any challenges and even without nose mask into Togo revealed to the reporter in a chat that at times the Ghanaian officers at the main border post take around GHS5.00 from anyone who wants to cross as well as their Togolese counterparts who take around 300 CFA (GHS 2.90).

This, the young man said is the reason why some people including him use the road adjacent the facility to cross.

A woman who wanted to be anonymous also confirmed that the officers at times take money from people who want to cross but could not say the exact amount.

Officials at the border post in the past few weeks have been sacking and arresting people who attempted to cross the border. The recent and the biggest arrest made at the border was the twenty-seven Nigerians and Nigeriens who attempted to cross from Ghana in a Nigeria bound cargo truck full of onion.

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