By Michael Pepsin Avorgah, GNA
Aflao (V/R), Feb. 23, GNA — The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Aflao has partnered with Zongo community leaders under a newly introduced Community Prevention Forum (CPF), to intensify efforts at curbing irregular border crossings and illegal migration.
Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCOI), Mark Asamoah-Boakye, the Aflao Sector Commander of the GIS, disclosed this collaboration during a stakeholder engagement forum with the Aflao Zongo community.
The meeting brought together ethnic group leaders, the Chief Imam, executives of the Muslim Motor Riders Association and other notable figures, to deliberate on how the community could support border security operations.
DCOI Asamoah-Boakye stressed the importance of dialogue between law enforcement agencies and border communities.
“It is prudent for us as law enforcement agents at the border to engage all our stakeholders, in some form of interactions so that they would understand us, share their concerns with us and so would also understand them so that we form a common platform.
“It was for us to dialogue and to give recognition to the community concerns and then to also commit to fairness and lawful conduct,” he said.
He said the Service had observed an influx of illegal immigrants transiting through some homes and places of worship, assisted by unknown persons through unapproved routes.
DCOI Asamoah-Boakye said many of such immigrants had no clear purpose for entering the country, with some ending up as beggars on the streets, while others engage in deviant behaviours.
“Oftentimes, these people come through unapproved routes. And these porous borders give way for miscreants and unscrupulous people to take them through. So they end up being with them before they secure places for them to be deployed,” he noted.
He added that another concern discussed was the vulnerability of destitute children who are sometimes exploited on the streets, in homes and on farms, a development he said had serious implications for national security and social protection.
DCOI Asamoah-Boakye debunked perceptions that the Immigration Service was targeting the Muslim community in its operations.
“It is not a matter of targeting. Maybe there was no understanding of our operations, so we assured them our commitment to use the Community Prevention Forum to address all the challenges,” he said.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI), Justice Kudzo Normeshie, the Public Affairs Officer of the Aflao Sector Command, explained that the introduction of the Community Prevention Forum (CPF), a new GIS strategic platform is aimed at building a strong community partnership to strengthen border security.
He said the CPF would bring together all relevant stakeholders within the community to enhance cooperation and intelligence sharing.
He explained that the platform would be inclusive and allow stakeholders who could not write to submit concerns through voice notes for prompt redress.
Alhaji Ahmed Ismael, the Aflao Zongo Chief, expressed appreciation to the Immigration Service for initiating the engagement, describing it as timely and long overdue.
“The Zongo community is willing to support the work of the immigration service as law abiding citizens,” he said.
He, however, raised concerns about alleged instances of mistreatment of some community members at border posts and checkpoints.
Alhaji Ahmed explained that some residents frequently travelled to Niger to visit families or engage in seasonal farming during the rainy season and sometimes faced intimidation upon their return to Ghana to continue their trade.
He alleged that in some cases, individuals were denied entry despite being residents with legitimate reasons for travel.
He described the engagement as fruitful and expressed optimism that the grievances raised would be addressed, reaffirming the community’s readiness to collaborate with the Service to ensure peace and security.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo