Jomoro residents, MP, protest land border closure
the Jomoro Constituency MP has indicated that the ensuing hardship from the closure of the Elubo border has had more devastating impacts than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some residents of the Jomoro Constituency including the Member of Parliament, Dorcas Afo-Toffey have taken to the streets on Thursday, September 2 to protest against the continued closure of the Elubo border.
A similar demonstration occurred last week when some Ketu South residents demanded the opening of the Aflao border.
In both instances, the residents have indicated that the closure of the borders adversely affects their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the Jomoro Constituency MP has indicated that the ensuing hardship from the closure of the Elubo border has had more devastating impacts than the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told Accra-based Citi News that “more people have died in the area due to hardships as a result of the border closure than the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleading with the government, President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene.”
“After all, we were told that the motive behind the land border closure was to prevent the spread of the virus from other countries, but the deaths we have recorded from hardship exceeds what COVID-19 would have caused.”
The borders were closed in March 2020 as part of efforts by President Akufo Addo to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Land borders have since then only allowed cargo to pass. It is however expected that the Presidency will consult with the COVID-19 National Response Team to announce any intervention or decision on the state of the land borders.
Nonetheless, the organizers of the protests have petitioned the Chief Executive Officer of the Jomoro Municipality, Ernest Kwofie, requesting the establishment of an antigen testing regime at the land borders to enable free movement of persons and a return of trade activities.
