A week-long field inspection by the Ghana Boundary Commission has confirmed growing concerns over damaged boundary pillars and the difficult living conditions of communities along Ghana’s western frontier in the Bono Region.
The exercise, led by Commissioner-General, Major General Anthony Ntem, covered several border communities within the Dormaa Central and Jaman South Municipalities. The mission sought to assess the state of Ghana’s international boundary markers and evaluate the broader implications for border security and community welfare.
Findings from the field largely validated earlier reports submitted by officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Immigration Service, who had raised alarms about the deteriorating condition of some boundary pillars in the area.
According to the Commission, although a significant number of the pillars remain intact, several have either been displaced, defaced, or completely broken. Officials attribute the damage to a combination of human activities, including farming and encroachment, as well as environmental factors such as erosion and weathering. The situation, they warn, poses a risk to effective boundary demarcation and could undermine border security if not addressed promptly.
The inspection also highlighted the plight of border communities, many of which remain underdeveloped and underserved. Residents in these areas continue to face limited access to basic infrastructure, social services, and economic opportunities, raising broader concerns about human security and state presence along the frontier.
Meanwhile, the Commission noted that ongoing collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire through a Joint Reaffirmation Exercise is expected to address some of these challenges. The exercise, which involves the replacement and reaffirmation of international boundary pillars along the shared land border, is currently underway but has yet to extend to parts of Dormaa Central and Jaman South.
Authorities, however, remain optimistic that the identified issues will be tackled in Phase Three of the Joint Reaffirmation Exercise, where reconstruction of damaged pillars in the affected municipalities is expected to be prioritised.
The Ghana Boundary Commission has assured that it will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the country’s borders while advocating for improved living conditions in frontier communities.
Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Ministry’s official website for further details on the exercise and ongoing boundary management efforts.
