Extortion at border points influences use of unapproved routes – Study
Experiences and perceptions of extortion at Ghana’s official border posts, coupled with the lack of travel documents and financial constraints of immigrants, have been identified as factors influencing the use of unapproved routes into the country. The post Extortion at border points influences use of unapproved routes – Study appeared first on Ghana Business News .
A study conducted by Professor Elijah Yendaw of the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Ghana has revealed that extortion at official border posts and the lack of travel documents are influencing West African itinerant immigrant retailers to use unapproved routes into the country. The study, titled "Cross-Border Migration of Itinerant Immigrant Retailers in Ghana," found that 58.2% of the respondents reported using unapproved routes, while 41.8% used approved routes.
The data used in the study were gathered through a mixed-methods research design, involving 779 West African itinerant immigrant retailers. The brief, titled "Free Movement, Unapproved Routes: Closing Ghana’s Documentation, Trust and Border-Governance Gaps for West African Itinerant Traders," emphasizes the need for Ghana's border management to address the factors that make travelers avoid official crossing points.
The brief proposes six policy actions, such as making approved routes more accessible, expanding documentation access, and improving border governance, to encourage the use of approved routes over unapproved alternatives. The study underscores the importance of reforming border posts to make them safer, more accountable, and more attractive than unapproved alternatives.
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