Ghana's Borders: 48 Gates, Over 300 Gaps

A country cannot protect what it cannot count. The Ghanaian Times front page of 10 November puts the problem plainly. Thirty-six of Ghana's 48 legitimate border crossing points are not covered by electronic systems for capturing migrant data.

What the Interior Minister said
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said only 12 of the 48 legitimate crossing points have biometric monitoring: six with the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and six with the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES). The Ghana Immigration Service itself has made the same point, saying only 12 of the 48 approved crossings are automated.

The legitimate gates are only part of the problem. In October, the Minister said Ghana has more than 300 unapproved crossing points. In July he told Parliament's Assurances Committee that 102 unapproved routes had been identified in the Volta Region alone. He said this made it impossible to collect data on who is in the country, and that more than 60 inland checkpoints had been set up, with only two in Volta.

What the government is doing
Mr Muntaka said mobile devices would let immigration officers capture the biometric details of people met along unapproved routes. He said 3,241 migrant beggars and 960 other illegal immigrants had been removed.

He also said the main challenge was no longer political will or intelligence, but the scale of the problem, and that logistical support was being mobilised. He stressed that tougher border measures are not meant to undermine Ghana's hospitality or its obligations under the ECOWAS free-movement regime.

The funding question
The Immigration Service has said money is part of the answer. In 2025 it generated GH¢546.04 million but kept only 40 per cent, about GH¢218.42 million. Of the amount retained, 25 per cent was earmarked for the construction of its national headquarters, leaving 15 per cent for administrative and operational activities. A service that must secure remote borders on 15 per cent of what it earns will struggle to buy equipment.

What should be done
Automate the remaining 36 crossings, with a public timetable and budget.

Deploy the mobile biometric devices on the unapproved routes, starting with the highest-risk areas such as Volta.

Fund the Service properly. Government should review the revenue retention rule so operations are not squeezed.

Use communities. Border communities, drivers and traditional leaders are the first to see strangers on unapproved routes. They need safe ways to report.

Work with neighbours. Data sharing and joint patrols with Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso are essential, within ECOWAS rules.

Protect children at the border. Better data helps stop trafficking. A child taken across a gap in the system leaves no record.

Conclusion
Border security is not only about keeping people out. It is about knowing who comes in, who leaves and who is taken. With 36 gates unmonitored and hundreds of unapproved routes open, Ghana is still guessing. The Minister has been honest about the gaps. The next step is a funded plan to close them.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Ghanaian Times, "Nation's border monitoring faces major gaps: Only 12 of 48 crossing points capture migrant data electronically — Minister," 10 Nov 2026. https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/nations-border-monitoring-faces-major-gaps-only-12-of-48-crossing-points-capture-migrant-data-electronically-minister/

Graphic Online, "4,201 foreigners removed as Ghana tightens border checks over return through unapproved routes." https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/4-201-foreigners-removed-as-ghana-tightens-border-checks-over-return-through-unapproved-routes.html

Graphic Online, "Immigration seeks private sector support" (Rev. Wengam, GIS). https://graphiconline.com/news/general-news/ghana-news-immigration-seeks-private-sector-support.html

MyJoyOnline, "Ethnic conflicts, land disputes and illicit drugs remain major security concerns – Muntaka," Oct 2026. https://www.myjoyonline.com/ethnic-conflicts-land-disputes-and-illicit-drugs-remain-major-security-concerns-muntaka/

MyJoyOnline, "Ghana has 48 legitimate entry points but over 300 illegal crossing points – Interior Minister," 12 Oct 2026. https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-has-48-legitimate-entry-points-but-over-300-illegal-crossing-points-interior-minister/

Citinewsroom, "102 unapproved border routes identified in Volta Region alone – Interior Minister," 7 Jul 2026. https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/07/102-unapproved-border-routes-identified-in-volta-region-alone-interior-minister/

Citinewsroom, Interior Minister on Volta illegal crossings and inland checkpoints. https://www.citinewsroom.com/?p=1354492

Ghana News Agency, "Governing Council pushes SECOBOR project to strengthen Ghana Immigration Service," Apr 2026. https://gna.org.gh/2026/04/governing-council-pushes-secobor-project-to-strengthen-ghana-immigration-service/

The Ghanaian Times, front page, No. 20,622, 10 Nov 2026 (your uploaded page).