Akosombo, Eastern Region, Ghana, 31 October 2024 – Border management agencies from Ghana, Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania met in Ghana for a three-day workshop from 29 to 31 October on Integrated Border Management (IBM). The workshop convened by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana brought together senior border management officials from key Border Management Agencies in Ghana, Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania to reinforce IBM capacities and promote peer-to-peer learning in the spirit of south-south cooperation.

“By working together, we are building stronger, safer borders for the future,” said Kwame Asuah Takyi, Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service. “This workshop has made clear that while our challenges are shared across nations, so too are our solutions.”

Integrated Border Management is a key cornerstone of IOM’s border governance programming, focusing on national and international coordination among relevant authorities involved in border management and trade facilitation. This holistic approach ensures more effective, efficient, and coordinated border management practices. This workshop follows up Ghana’s benchmarking study visit to Kenya and Tanzania in May 2024. Key learnings evolved around innovative mechanisms, such as the institutionalized border management structures and one-stop border posts (OSBPs), which Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have pioneered to promote an integrated approach to border management.

Building on the experiences from the study visit to Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania, the workshop in Ghana revitalized national efforts by showcasing localized solutions and best practices from the two East African countries, particularly on inter-agency collaboration in border management. Participants engaged in peer-to-peer learning, where Kenyan and Tanzanian officials shared their experiences with inter-agency cross-border cooperation, and participants discussed strategies to ensure the safe movement of legitimate travelers and goods, while maintaining robust border security.

“It is essential that our border management agencies collaborate seamlessly to address critical issues such as human trafficking and smuggling,” stated Brigadier General Bawa Zibrim Ayorrogo, Commissioner of the Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority. “The IBM framework equips us with the tools necessary to secure our borders while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”

During the workshop, officials reviewed Ghana’s existing IBM mechanisms and came up with actionable strategies to strengthen and rejuvenate these interventions, aiming to enhance inter-agency and cross-border cooperation.

“The Kenyan experience with the Coordinated Border Management Model demonstrates the importance of inter-agency collaboration for both security and trade facilitation,” noted Kennedy Nyaiyo, Head of the Kenya Border Management Secretariat and Secretary to the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee. “We hope our experiences will inspire our colleagues in Ghana to reinforce their own systems.”

Looking ahead, Ghana’s border management agencies will focus on implementing the strategies discussed during the workshop.

“The essence of Integrated Border Management lies in collaboration. It is about breaking down silos and fostering cooperation among all stakeholders. When entities work together seamlessly, we can achieve a balance between security and trade facilitation,” said Nnamdi Iwuora, IOM Ghana’s Senior Programme Manager. He emphasized: “Peer-to-peer learning is central to this process, allowing agencies to share expertise and build capacity together. IOM’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach amplifies these efforts, creating a comprehensive response to security challenges that benefits all sectors of society.”

Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, this workshop is part of IOM Ghana’s ongoing collaborative efforts with other African nations to promote cross-border cooperation and enhance the adoption of an integrated approach to border management to strengthen stability in West Africa.

For more information, please contact:

In Ghana: Daniel Tagoe, at dtagoe@iom.int

In Kenya: Cynthia Meru, at cmeru@iom.int                       

In the United Republic of Tanzania: Pamela Mbunonu Kyando, at pkyando@iom.int