Aflao chief pushes back against claims of over 100 illegal border routes in Volta Region
The Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V, has rejected claims by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak that more than 100 illegal entry routes exist in the Volta Region, arguing that such assertions misrepresent the realities of border communities.
In a statement, the traditional ruler said many of the routes being described as illegal have existed for generations and were established long before the colonial-era boundaries that separated present-day Ghana and Togo.
According to him, these pathways have historically connected families, farmlands, markets and cultural sites shared by communities on both sides of the border.
Togbui Amenya Fiti expressed concern that portraying the routes solely as channels for illegal activity unfairly casts suspicion on residents whose livelihoods depend on legitimate cross-border trade, farming, fishing and transportation.
He recalled that chiefs and residents of the Volta Region had previously faced allegations of facilitating illegal movements across the border, claims he said were never proven but contributed to negative perceptions about the region.
The Aflao chief maintained that border communities should not be treated as security threats, noting that most residents are law-abiding citizens engaged in lawful economic activities.
He also pointed to challenges at some official border posts, including alleged harassment and extortion, which he believes may push some travellers to seek alternative routes.
Beyond border management concerns, he highlighted rising criminal activity in Aflao and surrounding areas, including robbery and violent attacks, warning that such conditions create opportunities for smugglers and other criminal elements to exploit vulnerable travellers.
Rather than blaming local communities, Togbui Amenya Fiti called for stronger border security, improved intelligence gathering, increased recruitment of security personnel and efforts to address corruption within the border management system.
He further questioned how such a large number of unauthorised routes could exist if security agencies had effectively monitored the country’s borders over the years.
The traditional leader urged government to work more closely with chiefs and local leaders, arguing that border communities possess valuable knowledge that can support national security efforts.
He concluded by calling for a more balanced approach that recognises the historical, cultural and economic realities of life along the Ghana-Togo border while strengthening security through cooperation and development.
Source: myjoyonline.com
About The Author
