The demarcation of the Elubo border in the Western Region has created numerous unapproved routes, which are used by smugglers who wield sophisticated weapons and endanger the lives of security personnel in the area.

To this end, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has appealed to the government to ensure that officers of the service are adequately armed.

According to the officers, they would be able to combat the activities of the smugglers and any insurgence if they are sufficiently armed.

Smart Osei Bonsu, Acting Sector Commander at the Elubo border, disclosed this when the Minister of Interior, Mark Owen Woyongo visited the border yesterday.

The Minister for Interior, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for

Navrongo Central, was in the Western Region on a day’s working visit.

Smart Osei Bonsu noted that as front liners, the provision of bulletproof jackets to GIS officers was vital.

The Sector Commander revealed that patrol along the unapproved routes had been intensified due to the rise in armed robbery, as well as the outbreak of the Ebola Virus in some West Africa countries.

He indicated that the use of canoes for moving between Ivory Coast and Ghana by smugglers was commonplace in the area.

“Speed boat and life jackets for patrolling the unapproved routes are necessary,” he noted.

The Sector Commander said the Elubo border was faced with rampant power cuts.

He indicated that miscreants and other wanted persons on the GIS “stop list” could enter the country through the frontier unnoticed.

The Interior Minister, for his part, indicated that the law that established the GIS would be reviewed to allow officers of the service to use weapons in the discharge of their duties.

He also promised to inform the Western Regional Minister to impress upon officials of Electricity of Ghana in the area to exempt the Elubo Border in the current load-shedding exercise.

The Minister earlier paid a courtesy call on the Western regional minister, Paul Evans Aidoo in Sekondi to inform him about his mission in the region.

Hon. Woyongo also interacted with some regional security commanders.

The Minister of Interior proceeded to Elubo where he addressed the Customs officers and cautioned them to be vigilant at the border to prevent the outbreak of Ebola in some countries in the sub-region.