Taskforce destroys unapproved Togo-Ghana footbridge

A footbridge connecting Togo to Ghana in the Jasikan district of the Oti region has been destroyed.

The bridge was one of several unapproved routes into Ghana’s porous borders, JoyNews’ Oti regional correspondent, Peter Senu, has reported.

A joint security taskforce deployed to the border post in the region cut off the Ghana section of the bridge, much to the chagrin of Togolese nationals on the other side of the border, he reported.

According to the reporter, the Togolese nationals said they had farmland on the Ghana side.

“They come in as and when it pleases them”, he reported. The bridge looked fairly new as the wood used appeared freshly cut.

The government has said it has beefed up security along the country’s borders, which have been closed since March. It was closed to check the influx of people potentially infected with the coronavirus.

There have been at least four deployments to the various border posts since February 2019, the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has said.

Ghana has at least 250 unapproved entry points, and the Defence Minister has expressed concern.

But the government’s motive for the deployment was questioned after an NPP MP suggested the soldiers in the Volta Region were there to ensure foreign nationals do not participate in a mass voter registration exercise.

The MP, K.T Hammond, has explained he was only hazarding a guess.