Accra– On 9 December 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana, together with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), donated three ambulances as well as 14 tablets, 13 laptops, and 12 blood pressure monitors to Port Health of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for three land borders. This is part of joint efforts to strengthen the public health emergency response and overall border management capacities at the key points of entry.

Receiving the equipment, the Director General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said that the donated items will help to ensure that the country’s borders are prepared for any public health crises. He assured that the equipment will be well-maintained and utilized for the intended purpose. The donation forms part of the interventions designed to reinforce the capacities of points of entry in Ghana to better prepare and respond to potential health crises at the Paga (border with Burkina Faso), Elubo (border with Côte d’Ivoire) and Aflao (border with Togo) through the provision of the necessary equipment and infrastructure.

“Today, within the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, developing the capacity to respond to infectious diseases in the context of border management has become very crucial,” said Mr. Yasumichi Araki, Chief Representative, JICA Ghana office. He encouraged the GHS to “ensure the equipment proper use and maintenance for the benefit of the people of Ghana.” In addition to the donation, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and prefabricated isolation structures are currently being constructed at the three borders, which, upon completion, will be handed over to the Government.

Mr. Hisanobu Mochizuki, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, said that the project was timely considering the impact of COVID-19 on peoples’ lives and the global economy. He added that border restrictions during the pandemic affected not only the movement of people but also of goods, disrupting supply chains all over the world, especially in Africa. “Today’s donation and the other related interventions are crucial to help prepare land borders to withstand public health crises,” said Mr. Mochizuki.

The donation of the equipment forms part of the IOM-implemented project “Improving Border Management Capacity for Responding to Public Health Crises including Infectious Diseases/COVID-19", funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). “Beyond the COVID-19 crisis, IOM is committed to supporting states, governments, and communities to build health systems that are responsive to the needs of migrants and mobile populations, and are equipped to address public health concerns along the mobility continuum. By bringing a deeper understanding of mobility dynamics, IOM strives to reinforce policies, legislation, and operational systems in addition to administrative and technical facilities to better respond to public health challenges,” said Nnamdi Iwuora, Senior Programme Manager at IOM Ghana.

For more information, please contact Kojo Wilmot, Immigration and Border Management Officer at IOM Ghana, Tel: +233 302 742 930 Ext. 2412 kwilmot@iom.int