ECOWAS Urges Member States to Tackle Extortion and Harassment at Land Borders
The Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, has issued a strong call to member states to take decisive action against extortion and harassment perpetrated by immigration and customs officials at land borders across West Africa.
Speaking at the conclusion of a three-day regional validation meeting on the ECOWAS Labour Migration Strategy and Action Plan in Accra, Mr. Siaw-Boateng highlighted the persistent reports of mistreatment faced by citizens travelling within the region.
He emphasized that ECOWAS itself lacks its own police, immigration, or customs units, and therefore relies entirely on member states to ensure their operatives act responsibly.
“ECOWAS does not have its own enforcement agencies; we depend on member states to ensure their operatives do the right things,” he said. “The extortion and harassment must be dealt with directly by national governments.”
He recounted a recent fact-finding mission led by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, to the Benin-Nigeria border on May 7, 2025.
During the visit, the delegation stopped to speak with traders, drivers, and travellers who shared troubling stories of unauthorized checkpoints and illegal demands for money.
“In Nigeria, we observed several unauthorized checkpoints between Lagos and Seme,” he noted. “But once we crossed into Benin, we didn’t encounter any checkpoints until Hilaconji, near the Togo border. Still, corruption persists.”
He shared a personal experience at the Benin border where an official demanded 2,000 CFA before stamping his passport — a clear violation of protocols. “We had to intervene directly, but what about the countless others who face such extortion without support?” he asked.
Mr. Siaw-Boateng underscored the need for intensified advocacy and sensitization efforts targeting both officers and ECOWAS citizens.
He also pointed to the annual meeting of heads of immigration from member states as a key platform for addressing these challenges, while advocating for the issue to be brought before the highest decision-making body — the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He disclosed that border crossing challenges will be a central topic at the upcoming summit of Heads of State, which is expected to coincide with the celebration of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary.
“This summit will be a pivotal moment for us to address these long-standing issues and reaffirm our commitment to the rights and dignity of community citizens,” he stated.
Source: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/expressnewsghana.com
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