By Jones Anlimah
The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Tapre Hodo IV, has called on government through the Volta Regional Minister Mr. James Gunu, to remove inland immigration checkpoints across the Volta Region, describing the practice as “humiliating” and “a dehumanising treatment of citizens.”
Speaking at the general meeting of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs in Ho, Togbe Tapre Hodo IV condemned the persistence of checkpoints at locations such as Sogakope, and Asikuma, where travellers are routinely ordered to disembark from buses and walk across before rejoining their vehicles.
“It is very humiliating when people travel in our region, and they get to Asikuma or Sogakope, and they are asked to come down from their buses, walk across, or join the bus over a distance. I have never seen it in any region… We cannot continue to dehumanise our citizens,” the President of the House said.
He further questioned the need for these inland posts when immigration officers are already stationed at official border entry points. “If inland immigration posts are tolerated, then what will happen to the immigration officers who are at the border posts, the proper entry points? It just looks like they are not doing their work,” Togbe Tapre Hodo IV added.
Reiterating his earlier appeals, he urged that “immigration officers should go back to where they are supposed to be” and called for immediate government action to end the practice.
Volta Regional Minister James Gunu, who attended the meeting with municipal and District Chief Executives, pledged to address the concerns raised by the chiefs.
“I am taking note of the issues raised concerning the immigration issues… These issues came to the attention of the Regional Security Council, and I want to assure the President of the House and the chiefs that you will see the results very soon,” Gunu said.
The Minister also outlined his three-point agenda for the development of the region, including ensuring peace and security, strengthening municipal assemblies for economic growth, and fostering collaboration between traditional authorities and government agencies.
The House of Chiefs reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government in promoting development while insisting on the protection of the dignity of the people of the Volta Region.
