The National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, says the country’s border security system will further be strengthened following the establishment of the National Border Fusion Center.
In an address read on his behalf by the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, he indicates that the centre which will bring together stakeholders in the security sector will serve as an information-sharing hub for border security to facilitate informed, rapid decision-making.
“This center will bring together several of our intelligence security agencies notably the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Research Department, the Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Control Board, Ghana Police Service, and several other agencies in the air, land, and maritime under one roof to facilitate the sharing of information and intelligence in a timely manner.”
He was speaking at the newly inaugurated National Border Fusion Center at the Security Governance Institute (SGI) on January 21 in Accra.
The project, however, is a partnership between the government of the United States of America and the Ghana government.
Staffed by 23 skilled analysts from multiple border-related agencies, the Border Fusion Center will compliment interagency coordination that will allow government to synchronize its efforts and ultimately provide useful analysis for senior decision-makers
Reiterating on the cracks within Ghana’s security system, Dominic Nitiwul in an interview with GhanaWeb, noted that security agencies are faced with difficulties in curbing criminal activities noting the lack of equipment as a major setback.
“I’ve always said that the security gaps are many. A gap in making sure that our has enough cover, our maritime security has enough cover, to making sure that our police are well resourced to be able to do what they need to do, our immigration are protected first, themselves and can protect us as well and have the equipment.”
“All these organisations have certain gaps but we do not have the equipment to do it at once. So it makes the work difficult.”
Thus bringing the agencies under one roof, he further noted the move will help fight crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal migration, terrorism, piracy, and many other transnational crimes.
On her part, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Kirsten D. Madison, said the partnership between the US and Ghana seeks to improve Ghana's capability to manage and integrate its border operations.
She added that as part of the United States’ commitment to Ghana’s security, her country will provide an additional $3 million foreign assistance funding to build upon the successes of “our joint efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement, promote the rule of law and the administration of justice, and combat transnational financial crime.”
"We have a lot of work left to do together and I am confident that we have a rock solid foundation to build upon our relationship with you."
