Time To Act

The story about ten nationals of Guinea breaching the security cordon around the country and arriving Tamale is worrying.

Although we appreciate the challenges posed by our porous frontiers we would be quick to ask that this particular case considering the health crisis we are confronted with should not be glossed over.

Ignoring the subject and treating it as one of many before it would suggest that we are in normal times which we are not.

A probe into the matter would be appropriate and the findings made public.

Earlier Daily Guide had called the attention of the authorities, Ghana Immigration Service, National Security apparatus, the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to how some political appointees are discouraging frontline security personnel from doing their work.

This followed credible information that some DCEs are fond of calling the security personnel to let go Burkinabes who come into the country on motorbikes even during this closure of borders.

Such interference would not inure to the dividends the President seeks to achieve on our behalf when he ordered the frontiers shut.

The Tamale issue refers. It would be important to trace the source of the lapse which enabled the intruders to travel as far as Tamale a journey of over a hundred and fifty miles from the frontier.

It would be worthwhile to determine factors which facilitated their movement and subsequent checking into a hotel in Tamale. Such hospitality facilities have laid-down protocols the breach of which can be costly and even dangerous.

Their subsequent positive test to Covid-19 is a matter of concern to both the residents of Tamale and beyond.

The Northern Regional Security Council should be commended for their prompt action in apprehending the Guinean nationals.

The EU have somewhat suspended the free movement of their nationals as was the case before the pandemic. The ECOWAS free movement protocols should for now be suspended. We do not therefore expect our neighbours unfettered entry for now because after all our frontiers and main international airport in Accra have been shut. Any breach such as entering when this directive of closure is still in place is an affront to our laws and should be dealt with accordingly.

We have learnt about their possible deportation though. That certainly is in order but should come after compelling them to disclose the details of how they came into the country regardless of the border closure.

Those who facilitated the breach should be made to face the music because such deterrence is required to give the necessary impetus to the President’s directive and for people to be responsible.

Those who are seen to have been involved in the scandal should be made to face the music.

It is just unfathomable how a bona fide Ghanaian would facilitate the entry into Ghana of foreign nationals when such actions are injurious to the health of the nation at this time of a pandemic.

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