Aflao, Jan. 12, GNA - A video footage of an alleged extortion of money by personnel of security agencies at the Ghana-Togo border at Aflao, has sparked tension and anxiety, among the personnel and their organizations at the frontier.

Some personnel of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), have since had their duty points reviewed. The authorities in charge of the agencies were also engaged in marat= hon meetings with their respective personnel, cautioning them on the need to act diligently in their work, to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing situation= .. The video clip, taken by an under cover reporter, last week, showing the alleged extortion of money and harassment at both ends of the frontier, was widely discussed in the media.

Sources close to the CEPS told the GNA on Tuesday that, Abdulai Haruna, a Collecting Assistant grade 2 of CEPS, who was captured in the clip, has been called under escort to the CEPS Headquarters in Accra for further interrogations.

Meanwhile, some junior officers of the organizations have complained that, their superiors have been negligent, by glossing over the misdeeds at the frontier, "leading to the embarrassing outcome".

However, Mr Desmond Abbey, a Chief Collector, who is the second-in-command of CEPS at Aflao, reluctantly confirmed the actions being taken over the issue, but debunked the allegation that senior officers glossed over wrong doings, saying "it is difficult for one in the office to be aware of everything happening at the points without complaints or repo= rts by schedule officers." He said their outfit would look up to the CEPS Headquarters, who hav= e called for the clip for examination. Mr Mathias Homey, Assistant Director of Immigration in charge of the=

GIS at the border, who also denied the allegations of negligence on the p= art of senior officers, advised travellers to know their rights and responsibilities when travelling. He said they should know the travelling procedures and avoid compromising their positions and to report the misdeeds of officers for action. "They must avoid the unapproved routes which some unscrupulous personnel may take advantage of," he said. The GNA however, noted the absence of the usual hecklings and hold u= ps of travellers at both ends of the frontier, with traffic flowing easily.