Pogno – On Thursday 23 June 2022, the Minister of Security and Civil Protection, General Yark Damehane, and Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana, Togo and Benin, Mrs. Abibatou Wane, laid the first stone and launched the construction of the Pogno border post, on the border between Togo and Burkina Faso (prefecture of Kpendjal-West, Savanes region).

The construction of this border post is part of the “Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo” project implemented by IOM and funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). The main objective of this project is to improve land border security by strengthening technical and material capacity of border management agencies to effectively respond to emerging challenges while building border community resilience.

This project is in line with the Togolese Government’s roadmap 2020–2025 in its strategic objective 1, target 3: “ensure security, peace and justice for all”. The new infrastructure, which will last eight months from the start of the project, includes modern functions and equipment for migration flow management, such as the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS). The provision of patrol equipment and the construction of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are other key aspects of the construction project.

According to the Minister of Security and Civil Protection, the security situation in the West African sub-region has become a major concern for all countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “This post will make migration safer and more secure in this particularly fragile security context. The work to be carried out will improve the working conditions of administrative staff and better processing of migratory flows. This will allow the border populations to freely go about their daily activities,” said General Yark, Minister of Security and Civil Protection. In her speech, IOM Chief of Mission for Ghana, Togo and Benin, Ms. Abibatou Wane stated: “This project is very important as it marks the effective launch of the strengthening of border security and border community resilience, a major action for IOM this year.

Furthermore, it is the beginning of a process that will result in a well-built and equipped border post that meets international standards and allows for migration flow regulation in the area with the installation of the migration flow management application-MIDAS.” The implementation of this project will contribute to better control of migration movements. It will ensure improvement of public health emergency response mechanisms at the borders, strengthening of engagement and cooperation with border communities and strengthening of border agency cooperation in the three relevant countries, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.

For more information, please contact: Etienne BANGA, Head of IOM Office in Togo, email: ebanga@iom.int.