The Agotime/Ziope district in the Volta Region has constituted a task force comprising personnel of the Police Service, Immigration and some locals to help secure unapproved routes between Ghana and the Republic of Togo in the area.

This was on the heels of the recent coronavirus pandemic, which has caused the nation to close its borders, forcing cross country travellers to resort to unapproved routes.

Mr John Amenya, the District Chief Executive (DCE) told the Ghana News Agency that motorcycle riders were conveying people through unapproved routes in the area into the country and that the task force would cover their stretch of the frontier with surveillance.

He said the Assembly had moved to ban commercial motorcycle business in the district with immediate effect until further notice.

Mr Amenya said before the ban, 10 okada riders were arrested by the task force, but were cautioned and released.

The DCE said the task force would increase its surveillance not only in the border communities but also in the entire District.

He appealed to the people to cooperate with the force in the discharge of its duties and volunteer information on strangers in the communities for prompt action.

Mr Amenya said the Assembly in consultation with the traditional authorities had temporarily closed down all markets in the District to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

He said the Assembly had procured a number of veronica buckets, sanitizers and other protective items for distribution to all health facilities in the District, adding that plans were far advanced to install handwashing stations at vantage points in all communities for public use.

Mr Amenya said the directives of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were for the safety of the citizenry and appealed to all to go by them.

"Always remember to wash your hands with soap under running water and also keep social distance so as not to be infected by the coronavirus disease", he emphasized.