Inter-Border HIV Committee

An Inter-Border facilitation Committee (IBFC) under the World Bank – sponsored HIV/AIDS Transport Corridor project has been inaugurated at Aflao in the Ketu District of the Volta Region.

The 26-member committee, comprising representatives of security agencies from Ghana and Togo, as well as some officials from the Aflao HIV/AIDS Border Control Committee, is intended to ensure safe and fast movement of persons, crossing the borders which have been identified as breeding grounds for the spread of AIDS.

Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr. Emmanuel Impraim, is the chairman with Togolese Chief Customs Officer, Kpegba Anani Yao, as vice chairman while Diamond Mikado, chairman of the Aflao border control committee is the general secretary.

The Paramount Chief of Aflao traditional area performed the swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Togo Country Accountant of the Abidjan-Lagos Transport Corridor (ALCO), Irena Rose, said a World Bank study into the spread of HIV/AIDS, identified border crossing by persons, goods and vehicles as sources of the spread of the dreadful disease.

Ms Rose said, since the issue was centred on the transport corridor it became apparent that security agencies had to be involved in ensuring quick dispatches of persons, goods and vehicles to control the spread of the disease.