Volta NDC Demand Halt Of 14 Checkpoints On Ho, Aflao Highway

The Volta Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)has pooh-poohed the explanation by the Minister of Interior Hon. Ambrose Dery, that the fourteen checkpoints on the Ho-Accra and Aflao-Accra highways are purposed to ensure that terrorists and COVID-19 carriers do not infiltrate the country.

In a statement signed by Regional Communications Officer, Sorkpa K. Agbleze, the NDC said the Minister’s claims which he made while answering questions posed by Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, Member of Parliament for Ketu South, was not acceptable.

“The many snap checkpoints on the Aflao – Accra, Ho- Accra Highway, makes no security sense when our borders are porous. Lessons across the sub-region prove this is not the best strategy in preventing terrorists from entering the country,” the statement read.

“If terrorists have taken a foothold in these countries because of their porous borders, it is prudent and appropriate for Ghana to strengthen its porous borders to prevent terrorists from entering the country. The position of the Minister of Interior that checkpoints are to prevent terrorists and Covid-19 is difficult to accept under prevailing circumstances,” it said.

The NDC wondered how snap checkpoints could be for COVID-19 checks when those checkpoints do not even have covid-19 testing kits.

“The NDC in the Volta Region is calling on the Minister of Interior for the quick removal of the fourteen (14) discriminatory snap checkpoints/barriers on the Aflao- Accra, Ho- Accra Highway because they constitute a frustrating impediment to the free movement of citizens rather than providing any form of security for them,” the statement said.

Ambrose Dery had also said the borders would not be reopened soon, urging people affected by the border closure to access a program – Obaatanpa agricultural program.

But according to the NDC, “We see the position of the Minister that the borders will not be opened soon and the call on those affected by the closure to access the Obatampa agricultural programme as not being in touch with reality.”