#Election2024: Reverse unconstitutional closure of Ghana’s land borders immediately — One Ghana Movement to Gov’t

The One Ghana Movement has called on government to reverse its decision to temporarily close Ghana’s land borders following the December 7 general elections, describing the directive as unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The Ministry of the Interior had announced on December 6 that all land borders would be closed until 6:00 pm on December 8.

The measure, according to the ministry, was aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the elections.

In a press release issued on Saturday, December 7, the civil society group argued that the closure, which was announced by the Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, has disenfranchised Ghanaians who intended to return home by road to vote.

“Citizens who have registered to vote and are returning to their country by road are being disenfranchised by the order under the hand of the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, who is an MP-candidate seeking reelection,” the statement, signed by the group’s director, Senyo K. Hosi, read.

The Movement also warned that the directive could lead to legal challenges, potentially jeopardizing the credibility and peace of the elections.

“The effect of this surprise, blanket, unconscionable, and discriminatorily unconstitutional order could become the basis of a legal challenge of the outcome of today’s elections with the potential to disturb the peace,” the release noted.

One Ghana Movement insists that the closure is unfair, particularly when voters arriving by air are allowed to participate in the polls.

“The government must immediately re-open our land borders to stop the disenfranchisement of Ghanaians whose only ‘crime’ has been their failure to travel by air to return home to cast their votes,” the group urged.

The movement also raised concerns about alleged unlawful directives from the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), which it said could undermine the media’s role in monitoring the elections.

It called on the National Election Security Taskforce (NEST), led by Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to denounce any actions.