By: Albert Kuzor | Voltaonlinegh |

The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has toured border communities in the Nyive Sector (Nyive, Shia and Hornuta) all in the Ho Municipality in a move to tighten security at border communities in the region and to secure Ghana’s frontiers following recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

The team’s first stop was at Nyive, one of the growing borders in the region and engaged both junior and senior officers from Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Immigration Service in a short meeting and strategised on ensuring safety environments.

Speaking at the meeting, Regional Commander of the Service, Peter Nantuo Esq. called for a cordial relationship between CEPS and GIS regardless of their departments and various ranks.

Mr. Nantuo said it was prudent to have good relationship with residents in the border towns to assist in discovering illegal activities and unapproved routes.

“In line with my vision, we must make sure that we improve our relationship with the community rather than seeing them as nobodies. They know the unapproved routes than you, they know the criminals, the smugglers that you will not be able to get. So, if we are able to improve our relationship with them the information from them will come back to us and we are going to use that to work to safeguard Ghana and to improve the economy.”

The Commander also advised the personnel to avoid partisanship in their line of duties saying, “we are not politicians, if some of you have political ambitions then give us your green green (uniforms) and go home to form your political parties but so far as your mission is to serve Ghana not a political party, then that political ambition must stop, mother Ghana is your party.”

Challenges in the Sector

Nyive Sector Commander, Chief Supt Anthony Justice Setordzi lamented numerous challenges including the safety of lives of their personnel and appealed through the Regional Commander for urgent intervention.

Mr. Setordzi disclosed that personnel at borders in his sector have been exposed to poor health conditions (lack of potable water) with personnel at Shia complaining of snake bites and accommodation and other logistics issues.

“These among other challenges Nyive, Shia, Hodzorkope and Hornuta are battling with despite their restless efforts of protecting the country’s frontiers in that part of the country,” he noted.

The Way Forward

The Regional Commander assured them of channeling their grievances to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry and other relevant stakeholders for redress and urged them to be vigilant in their work and ever ready to defend the country.

He also charged them to work selflessly without favouring anyone’s interest but Ghana’s adding that the Service would deal with personnel who will fail in that regard.

The Volta Region with two major borders, Aflao and Akanu, has less than ten approved entry points while there are numerous unapproved routes.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com