Barbed wires preventing Ivorians from entering Ghana through unapproved routes in Elubo have been destroyed, giving free access to people to enter the country without being screened by immigration officials.

Ghanaian Immigration officials have been helpless and left with no option than to sit back and watch while people come in and out of the country through the unapproved routes.

The collapse is happening at a time when the country is religiously protecting its borders against the influx of Ebola.

The officials say they have no resources to carry out night patrols along the border.

Assistant Controller of Immigration (ACOI) at the Elubo border, Smart Osei-Bonsu says his men do not have the resources needed to patrol the border at night, the time when smugglers patronize those routes.

Interacting with the Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo, who embarked on a tour of the area Tuesday October 7, ACOI Osei-Bonsu described the situation as “a serious security threat”.

“It is possible that in the night people could use these unapproved routes [to come] into the country or [leave] the country with whatever goods they are carrying when our borders are closed.

“And you know [because] we are not carrying arms, we have also restricted our border patrol duties to 6:30pm because of the risk involved. People who are ready to use these places will use sophisticated arms and we are not having anything on us so it’s difficult asking your staff to go into these patrols when you know they are not carrying any weapon”.

He, therefore, advocated for the construction of a fence which will make it difficult for people to jump over to the Ghanaian side of the border.

In a quick response, the Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo, said government is putting in place measures which will allow immigration officers to be appropriately armed. 

He however requested that an estimate on the construction of a fence be submitted to his Ministry for consideration.

Meanwhile, Mark Woyongo has tasked the security personnel manning the borders between Ghana and the Ivory Coast to be extra cautious and avoid actions that could trigger disturbances between the two countries.

The two countries have been confronted with a potential border dispute over oil reserves in Cape Three Points.

Ghana, last month, referred the matter to international arbitration at the International Court of Justice for resolution.

“My appeal is that you should not do anything that will worsen our relations [and] provoke our neigbours…until the final resolution is made on this issue,” Mr. Woyongo urged the security personnel.