Ghana closes border with neighbouring country for elections

Ghana’s border with Togo was closed mid-night Friday, December 5 2008 until 0600 hours Monday December 8. According to a statement from the National Security Coordinator Dr Sam G. Amoo, the action “is in the interest of national security”. The statement said to this effect security forces had already been despatched to patrol the border areas to ensure national security. The closure of the country’s borders to its neighbours on every Election Day has been the status quo since 1992, a move meant to prevent foreign nationals from t aking part in the polls. Such border closures have been the norm for many ECOWAS countries, including Togo, during its national polls.