A Group, calling itself Concerned Border Residents, based in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region has expressed fear that, starvation is likely to hit many communities along the border if the current closure of the border continues.
According to them, since the closure to control the spread of the coronavirus, many residents within the jurisdiction who hitherto are into cross-border business for daily bread are now home and jobless.
In a press statement signed by the Leader, Vincent Adzogah, said: “the peculiar nature of Ketu South makes the closure of the border looking exactly like a lockdown.”
He stressed that, before the closure of the border and all entry points, it was a common practice to see women carry assorted items across the border to sell to feed.
“The issue is if we don’t cross the border, we go hungry. If some don’t cross to Adidogorme market or Gborshime or Asigame to sell or to carry load as kayaye or agbatekorkor, they starve.”
Mr. Adzogah added: “if some don’t cross the border to do carpentry or masonry or tiling work, they starve. This goes for other artisans.”
He said their group has received and heard several cries from several women and vulnerable people whose survival depend on these borders.
“The fact is residents in border communities are famishing. The hardest hit are the aged, the poor nursing mothers, the poor pregnant women, the physically – challenged persons, poor market women and indigenes.”
He mentioned that, “it is obvious that the vulnerable people in the border communities need urgent support. If nothing is done, COVID 19 will not be the thing killing our people. It will be starvation.”
They are pleading with businesses such as Diamond Cement Ghana Limited, banks, filling stations, hotels and construction stores and stores, religious bodies and other benevolent organisations in the area and beyond to come to their aid.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah.
