BORDER CONTROL AND THE FULANI HERDSMEN INFLUX AND MENACE IN GHANA: THE CASE OF INTERNATIONAL BORDERS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The enactment of the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of Persons, right to Residence and Establishment in 1979 culminated in the removal of all obstacles to free movements. Border control under the protocol was to balance border security and facilitation of legitimate migration across borders. Alien Fulani herdsmen influx and menace in Ghana have become of great concern to Ghanaians and government. The main objective of this thesis was to examine how border control in Upper East Region (UER) lead to the influx and the menace of alien Fulani herdsmen. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were applied in data gathering. Focus group discussions and observations were employed to complement interviews and literature reviewed. It was found that, ECOWAS protocol stipulates the use of valid travel documents and approved routes when crossing borders, and International Transhumance Certificate (ITC) introduced in 1998 but were not effectively implemented. Most alien Fulani herdsmen were oblivious of the stipulations of the protocol hence do not comply while those that do largely use identity cards. The influx are engineered by; climatic changes, porous border, availability of pasture and water, ineffective enforcement of the ECOWAS protocol, and Ghana's political stability inter alia. It was also found that, border controls were ineffective, and internal control measures virtually none existent. The research recommends amongst others, the formulation of migration policy, resourcing of border control agencies, creation of pasture banks, formation of security taskforce and internal control mechanisms instituted. Also, Ghana should go into bilateral agreement with countries of origin of alien Fulani herdsmen, and address issues regarding their citizenship. Borders controls put at the most patronised unapproved routes.