Customs appeals for support to move out encroachers of no man's land on the Ghana – Burkina Faso Border at Kulungungu

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Kulungungu Some Ghanaian and other nationals have encroached on the no man's land of the Ghana – Burkina Faso Border at Kulungungu in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region. The encroachers are said to be illegally using the land located within no man's land on the Ghana side to carry out businesses by constructing permanent houses as well as makeshift huts and sheds there. Traders, who bring in goods, keep these items in their homes and sheds in the no-man’s land and under the cover of darkness, sneak these goods in evading tax payments The Senior Revenue Officer of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Mr Stephen Borbor said activities in the no-man’s-land by the encroachers, impede efforts by the security agencies at checking illegal trade which also deprive the state of the needed revenue. Mr. Borbor therefore appealed to the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council as well as the Pusiga District Assembly to help remove the illegal structures that have sprung up in the border area. He made the appeal at a meeting with the newly appointed Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru and his Deputy, Mr Daniel A. Syme who were on familiarization tour of the area. “Encroachment is rampant on the border, and it is necessary to take the appropriate action now before the situation gets out of hand.”Mr Borbor said He also told the visiting delegation that due to the bad conditions of the road between Bolgatanga through Bawku to Kulungungu which link Ghana to its neighboring land lock countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, haulage truck users from Tema Harbour have diverted their routes and this have affected revenue generation. While expressing joy at ongoing work on the Missiga-Kulugungu stretch of the highways, he also appealed to government to fast-track rehabilitation work on the Bolgatanga –Bawku road to help the nation generate revenue which is needed to support national development. On the issue of fuel smuggling, he said anything the CFA appreciates against the Ghana Cedi, the was the propensity of smuggling becomes very high. He said Customs together with other security agencies at the border have intensified its patrols to curb the nefarious activity. However, their efforts are being hampered by the construction of several fuel stations close to the border. “The distance between Missiga nd Kulungungu is abot 11 kilometers. The vehicle populations are also very low yet we have a lot of fuel dumps springing up. We do not need that much of fuel stations. Their presence here is promoting smuggling, “he said. He therefore called on the District Assembly and other agencies involve streamlining the licensing regime for the establishment of fuel station to curb the smuggling of state subsided petroleum products, Also at the meeting were personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service. Mr Samuel Ametsitsi, Assistant Controller of Immigration told the regional minister and his entourage that one major challenge faced by the service is the non use of endorsable documenters by traveler plying that route. This he explained makes it difficult by the service to profile persons who use the entry point at Kulungungu. He suggested that if possible, Ghana Immigration Service should have 100 per cent access control of the border. The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru commended the personnel of the Customs Division, Ghana Immigration Service, Port Health and Disease control their various roles at ensuring that the smugglers did not deny the country of revenue. He promised to work closely with them and the Pusiga District Assembly to collectively find solutions to the myriad of challenges that confront them. He also pledged to tackle the problem of rampant sitting of petrol station close to the countries entry points. The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru and his deputy, Mr Daniel Syme had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II to introduce themselves and assure the chief of readiness to work in partnership with the traditional rulers to help develop the region. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru stressed the need for peace since without it no meaningful development can take place. “Our common enemy is poverty, illiteracy and disease and we must come together to fight these trio.” He said. Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II on behalf of the people of Bawku wished the regional minister and his deputy well and pledged to work with the regional minister to ensure the rapid development of the Upper East Region. -End- benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh