The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, has issued a firm call for the dismantling of inland immigration and police checkpoints in parts of the region, citing repeated violations of the fundamental right to free movement and unequal treatment of citizens.
Addressing a general meeting of the House in Ho, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV condemned the continued operation of security barriers at Asikuma, Sogakope, and Juapong, labelling them as relics of an outdated security rationale and a source of undue harassment for ordinary travellers and traditional leaders alike.
“These checkpoints, especially the immigration posts, have outlived any legitimate purpose they may have once served. Today, they only disrupt free travel and humiliate our people — actions that are both discriminatory and unconstitutional,” he said.
The chief questioned the legality of forcing passengers to disembark and walk distances before being allowed to continue their journey, noting that no other region in the country is subjected to such treatment. “Why is it only in the Volta Region that chiefs in regalia are made to open their car boots at inland posts?” he asked.
He insisted that immigration facilities belong at Ghana’s borders — not inland towns — and warned that the continued presence of these posts threatens to foster resentment and deepen regional marginalisation.
The House of Chiefs also pointed out that the secessionist threats once cited to justify the barriers have long subsided, and their continued presence now amounts to an infringement on civil liberties rather than a measure of public safety.
Togbe Tepre Hodo IV called on national security and immigration authorities to dismantle the checkpoints without delay and ensure that citizens in the Volta Region enjoy the same freedom of movement as others across the country.
“This is not just a Volta Region issue — it is a matter of fairness, justice, and equal treatment under the law,” he concluded.
