The Aflao Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service is calling on the Ghana Motor Riders Union to collaborate in preventing extremist groups from entering the country as the December 7 General Elections approach.
Speaking to Channel One News, the Public Affairs Officer for the Aflao Sector Command, DSI Justice Kudzo Normeshie, urged motor riders in border communities, particularly in the Ketu South Municipality, to cooperate with the Immigration Service by allowing checks on passengers they transport across the borders.
DSI Justice Kudzo Normeshie emphasised that this measure would help combat human trafficking.
“We want to use this opportunity to educate our motor riders that especially in this time of elections, a lot of people can use them to commit cross-border crimes. We should be aware of the infiltration of irregular migrants and possible tourists who can use them to enter this country. So we are telling them that when they are crossing the border with any passenger they pick, they should have the patience to allow the Ghana Immigration Service officers who are stationed along the borders to check these people and ask them questions to verify that the people they are carrying are of no security threats to the country.
“Especially in this period where people can easily sponsor people to come with weapons, explosives, and all sorts of agendas to destabilise the peace of the country. We want the motor riders to collaborate with us to prevent such things from happening, so that at the end of the day, by 7th December and beyond, we can have a peaceful election among Ghanaians where the country can be safe for all of us to do our businesses.
“The issue of human trafficking is on the rise. These motors are the people who are contracted to carry the people across. Yes, they may not be aware of the situation the passengers they are crossing are going to face, but we are telling them to always try to understand why the immigration officers would want to screen their passengers to ensure that the people they are carrying are good to go, and are of no issues and are not going to be victimised. Value the lives they carry and collaborate with us for effective work,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Motor Riders Association, Pascal Quarshie Setsofia, has called on the government to legalise commercial motorbike operations to enable proper regulation.
“The level of indiscipline has reduced, and the population is also growing. If this operation is not legalised, we are also looking at how it is going to affect us as a people. There is an apparent change now. We urge the motor riders to abide by all the sensitization programmes organised for them. As a Union, we are also expecting the government to legalise the operation. Once legalised, it can be regulated. If it is not legalised, it will be very difficult to regulate. As much as the government is doing sensitisation to put things right, they should also do their part in implementing the law,” she said.
