Security officers working along the Ghana-Togo border in Aflao in the Volta Region have accused some youth in the area of hijacking illegal entry points and extorting monies from people using those routes.
The officers said the youth’s attitude was gravely affecting screening of travellers coming into the country for the Ebola disease along the border.
“Our biggest challenge is not just about being able to screen and find out who is not supposed to enter the country and who is to, but the reality is that the okada boys in town have taken over all these beats,” Osman Adam, Border Control Commander told the Regional Minister, Helen Ntosoo when she interacted with the border officials on security situations at the border.
Osman Adam further bemoaned the constant threats from the youth anytime they moved in to address the situation which he described as a threat to national security.
“If an Immigration officer is beaten, he cannot do his work well,” Osman Adam said.
He added that other challenges like lack of accommodation and other logistics also hinder their work delivery.
Helen Ntosoo, the Regional Minister vowed to take drastic action to clamp down activities of the miscreants.
She however directed the officers to hold a meeting with the Chiefs and other opinion leaders in the region and submit a report to her office within a week for necessary actions to be taken.
By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana