The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, DCI/Dr. P.P.D. Asima has paid a working visit to the Elubo Border and some identified unapproved entries into the Western Region.
The visit on Thursday, March 2020 was part of strategies to ensure that the western part of the country which borders with Ivory Coast had been entirely closed in compliance with the president’s directive to close the country’s borders in the wake of the ravaging coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
DCI/Dr. P.P.D. Asima used the opportunity to abreast himself, with the effect of the fire outbreak that swept through some of the offices of the Elubo Border at about 2200HRS on Sunday, the 22nd of March, 2020.
On his arrival, the Elubo Sector Commander, Chief Superintendent Ahmed Musah, informed the Regional Commander, that he had put his officers on high alert since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the subsequent closure of the Country’s Borders due to the possible importation of the virus from abroad, precisely through some of the unapproved routes.
According to him, all the necessary security measures had been put in place together with the Elubo Border Security Committee (BOSEC) to deter and possibly arrest all recalcitrant travelers who may out of desperation resort to the use of some of the unapproved routes.
Some of the strategies according to a press release signed the Western Regional Public Affairs Officer of the Immigration Service ASST. INSP. Moses Manford Akakpo included
1. 24-hour patrols/surveillance at both main border and all the identified unapproved routes identified within the surrounding communities.
2. Increased number of officers on daily patrols.
3. Constantly engaging the membership of BOSEC to evaluate their border management operational strategies.
4. Courting the support of the chiefs and the elders of the community to impress upon their people to collaborate with all the relevant stakeholders by providing useful information for prompt action.
In spite of the March 22 fire outbreak which ravaged some of the key offices of the Sector and the debilitating effect it was having on their operations at the command, the release indicated that, the Command affirmed their unflinching commitment to the president’s directives and the strict adherence to the advice by health professionals to protect the citizenry against the covid-19 spread.
The Regional Commander, further took the opportunity to meet briefly, with the Elubo Border Security Management Committee, and commended them for their dedication and commitment to the course of the country, especially during this “NOT NORMAL TIMES”.
The Regional Immigration boss also assured his officers the fullest support from the management of the GIS.
He further requested them to draw new modalities, “if there could be a need to be more vigilant on the possible movement of the Canoes”.
At Ghana Nungua and Coco town communities, the Regional Commander interacted with officers deployed to man the identified unapproved routes, to show his appreciation for their resilience and dedication to duty in these trial times.
According to the Regional Commander, “a closure means a closure, so they should enforce the directives to the letter”.
Additionally, some of the community members as well as officers, from sister security agencies, were individually engaged at various points en route to some of the unapproved routes and equally pledged their resolve to fully cooperate with the Elubo Sector Command of GIS as their contribution towards preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus into the Western Region.
This visit is one of the strategic tactics being deployed by the Western Regional Command of GIS, to ensure continuous display of professionalism and compliance by all officers, to the president’s directives as well as all the travel/health advisory protocols, in our fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
The Elubo boarder command recently stopped over 28 persons Including 3 Nigerian nationals from entering the country after the President Nana Akuffo Addo’s announced closure of the country’s borders
