Col (rtd) Festus Aboagye questions justification for land border closure during elections

Security analyst Colonel (retired) Festus Aboagye has questioned the government’s decision to close Ghana’s land borders for 48 hours for the 2024 elections.

For him, the move was an infringement on citizens' rights.

In a television interview on Channel 1 TV, Col. Aboagye (rtd) expressed doubts about the necessity of the border closure, noting that no convincing reasons have been provided to justify the restriction on movement.

He pointed out that since all voters are registered and their names should be on the electoral roll, there seems to be no clear reason for the closure.

“I was looking for a rational explanation as to why the borders had to be closed,” he said. “From the statement that I’ve seen, I’ve not found any strong reasons for the closure.” He also highlighted that the decision contradicts the ECOWAS protocol, which supports the free movement of people, goods and services within the region.

While acknowledging concerns about the potential influx of non-voters or illegal materials, Col. Aboagye argued that such issues could be addressed through improved intelligence and security measures rather than imposing blanket border restrictions.

“What is needed, from my perspective, is that election security and security in general, must be intelligence-driven,” he stated.

According to him, the government’s closure of the borders follows a similar action taken in 2020, when fears of an invasion by Western Togoland secessionists were cited. 

Col. Aboagye criticised the government’s repeated use of security concerns as a reason for border closures, suggesting it may reflect a lack of maturity in Ghana’s democracy.

“Any country that is anxious about its border security on occasions like this is not a stable democracy; it’s more focused on regime security or exploiting the situation for political advantage,” he added.

The Ministry of the Interior has explained that the temporary border closure is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the elections. However, Aboagye indicated that securing elections should be done through prior investments in security resources, rather than last-minute measures. 

He noted that many citizens rely on cross-border movement for trade, and these individuals should not be penalised for political decisions.

“There are onion traders from Niger, Burkina Faso and other countries who travel here for work. If they happen to find themselves on the other side of our borders when the government announces the closure, I don’t agree with that,” Aboagye said.

He also emphasised that border closures are not a common practice in other African countries or during elections worldwide.

Col. Aboagye further raised concerns about the integrity of the election process itself, citing reports of missing ballot papers and allegations of armed groups intimidating voters.

“These incidents undermine the integrity of the election more than any external threats,” he said.

Read also: Ghana shuts land borders for 48 hours for Election 2024 [UPDATED]