Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army is continuing collaborations with its sister security agencies operating at Ghana’s borders, to ensure safety and sanctity of the nation’s boundaries, and for communities that live along the borders to be able to interact.
Speaking to journalists at Burma Camp in Accra at a Press Briefing on Thursday 22 August 2024, the Chief, G3 Operations at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) – Colonel (Col) Issahaku Beyolteim Mohammed, spoke of the setup of Border Security Committees (BODSEC), which comprise of all security agencies operating at the borders, to ensure border safety and security.
He said teams from the AHQ, join other services, and embark on border visits, some from the western border at Jewey Wharf, Half-Assini, up to the northwestern parts, as another team visits from the southeastern part – Aflao, enroute to the northeastern parts to Pulmakom and Paga, and converge.
He said border tour/visits are undertaken by Joint Operations Committee (JOC), which is under the aegis of the Ministry of National Security, and is composed of all state security agencies.
The visits are intended to encourage and motivate security personnel at Border/Crossing Points to continue to execute their tasks professionally, raise awareness of emerging security threats, ensure esprit d’corps, and also observe the challenges personnel are confronted with, for immediate redress by appropriate quarters.
He said there is a United Nations (UN) law on border communities, which guarantees certain freedoms for the inhabitants; such as freedom of movement, and to interact with the other side, and that the BODSECs are conscious of.
“We know how to interact with border communities, and to maintain the rights and privileges of such communities. Being the same people means that we must interact, but also respect international borders”, Col IB Mohammed said.
Of regional cooperation, he stated that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has antiterrorism desk, and all Member States share intelligence to ensure safe borders and good collaboration, ensuring Closer Border Relations.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
