Ghana's Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, revealed that only 12 out of 48 official border crossings in the country are equipped with electronic systems to capture data on people entering and leaving. This means that 36 crossings, or three in every four, rely on manual or no systematic record-keeping at all. The minister made this disclosure at the launch of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana Strategic Plan 2026-2028 in Accra.
The 12 border crossing points with electronic data-capture capability are supported by the United States government and the IOM. The lack of electronic tracking at most border posts has significant consequences, including limited ability to build a complete picture of who is coming in and going out, and why. This affects not only migration paperwork but also border security, management of people movement, and national development planning.
Ghana's borders see daily crossings for trade, tourism, and employment. The government is exploring locally developed solutions to extend electronic data collection to the remaining 36 crossing points that currently have none. However, the minister did not provide a timeline or cost for the planned rollout, nor did he specify which agency would lead the local development work.
The IOM's Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Sylvia Ekra, emphasized that launching a strategy is not an achievement in itself, but rather the results it delivers. The IOM's Strategic Plan for Ghana covering 2026 to 2028 sets out priorities for protecting migrants, addressing displacement, and promoting safe and regular pathways for migration.
The Ghanaian Times noted that electronic systems require not just equipment but also reliable internet connectivity, trained personnel, and technical support to function. Agencies would need to be able to share the data they collect to respond quickly to security threats. The newspaper's editorial highlighted the need to close Ghana's border data gaps.
The IOM is the United Nations agency responsible for migration-related work globally and has operated in Ghana for decades. The organisation's strategic plan aims to address the country's migration challenges, including the lack of electronic tracking at border posts. The government and IOM are working together to address these challenges and promote safe and regular migration pathways.
The disclosure has sparked concerns about Ghana's border security and the need for effective migration management. The government and IOM must work together to implement electronic tracking systems at all border posts and ensure that the data collected is shared and used effectively to respond to security threats and promote national development.
Key points
- Only 12 of Ghana's 48 border crossings have electronic systems to record entry and exit data.
- The government is exploring locally developed solutions to extend electronic data collection to the remaining 36 crossing points.
- The lack of electronic tracking at most border posts affects border security, migration management, and national development planning.
