Accra – On 30 August 2023, in a roundtable facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), border and identity management agencies of the Government of Ghana explored and agreed on the need to institutionalize a unified approach to community engagement and policing.

Representatives from state security and intelligence institutions, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) discussed how to strengthen the capacities of border management agencies to institutionalize and replicate successful community policing and engagement interventions. They also explored ways to respond to border management challenges, such as managing irregular crossing points and facilitating the mobility of border residents.

Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director at the Ministry of the Interior, said: “Border communities are a critical component in effectively managing our land borders. Building a relationship based on mutual trust and cooperation between the border residents and the security agencies will ensure that both the borders and the communities around them remain secure.”

Community policing is a well-defined approach conceptualized to strengthen the bond between police services and the community by responding to their security concerns. Similarly, community engagement has proven successful in strengthening border governance. These two concepts support authorities and local populations to build trust, improve security and enhance stability at borders. They strengthen the sense of proactive civic engagement while creating conditions for law enforcement to best serve and protect these communities in a people-focused and human rights-centred approach.

“Since 2020, IOM has been collaborating with the Government of Ghana on trust-building initiatives to strengthen community engagement in border communities of northern Ghana. No border governance intervention can be successful if done without the involvement of the community,” said Nnamdi Iwuora, Senior Programme Manager at IOM Ghana.

A recent study on security perceptions and vulnerabilities in eight border communities (Hamile, Tumu, Namoo, Mognori, Pulmakom, Paga, Pusiga and Kulungugu) highlighted common challenges facing border communities, including difficulty in managing movements at irregular crossing points and limitations in identity verification of border residents using these crossing points. Subsequently, community town hall meetings validated the study’s recommendations to address these challenges and dialogue platforms were established to allow community members to share information, address trust deficits and strengthen community engagement.

Furthermore, earlier this year, national consultations with state actors and non-state actors, such as United Nations agencies, international non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, affirmed the need to strengthen the capacity of border management agencies in community engagement and policing; reinforce the dialogue between the communities and state agencies; and integrate a community-based approach in solving some of the key border management challenges. 

Going forward, the relevant authorities will facilitate the registration and issuance of the ECOWAS Identity Cards for Ghana border residents and non-citizen cards for migrants residing within border communities to ease their routine movement. A consultative meeting between selected district assemblies and border and identity management agencies will be held to operationalise the registration and issuance of the cards.

The roundtable was organized as part of the “Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo” project funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).

For more information, please contact Nnamdi Iwuora, Senior Programme Manager at IOM Ghana, Tel: +233 302 742 930 Ext. 2401, or niwuora@iom.int.