Volta Regional Minister James Gunu says inland security checkpoints in the Volta Region have been restored to their original role and are no longer being used as instruments of intimidation, describing the move as a major step toward protecting citizens’ rights, preserving their dignity, and rebuilding public confidence in state institution
.In a statement, Mr. Gunu said the restoration aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to ensuring that security operations are carried out in a manner that respects the rights, dignity, and freedoms of all citizens. According to him, the decision reflects the values of fairness, inclusion, and democratic governance that Ghanaians hold dear.
Mr. Gunu noted that for many residents of the Volta Region, the issue of inland checkpoints goes beyond security infrastructure and border management. He said it touches on deeper concerns of dignity, belonging, and painful memories of a period when the checkpoints were perceived as symbols of suspicion rather than protection.
He acknowledged that every nation has a responsibility to secure its borders and maintain law and order, adding that checkpoints, when properly managed, serve legitimate purposes such as monitoring movement, preventing illegal activities, and ensuring public safety. However, he stressed that when security measures are seen as targeting particular communities or regions unfairly, they lose their protective purpose and instead become instruments of exclusion and discrimination.
The Regional Minister said many people in the Volta Region believed that under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, inland checkpoints were transformed from routine security facilities into tools of intimidation. He said law-abiding citizens often felt alienated by practices that were considered excessive and degrading.
According to Mr. Gunu, for years travelers within the region and across its boundaries reported repeated questioning, prolonged inspections, and the constant pressure to prove their identity. He said some individuals were allegedly judged not only by official identification documents but also by subjective factors such as appearance, dress, and language.
He further indicated that there were reports of citizens being questioned about their origins based on their ability to speak certain Ghanaian languages or how they looked, practices he said raised serious concerns about fairness, equal treatment, and national cohesion.
“Ghana’s identity is rooted in diversity, and no citizen should ever feel compelled to conform to a cultural stereotype in order to be recognized as belonging,” Mr. Gunu stated.
He emphasized that citizenship is a constitutional status and not something determined by appearance, accent, ethnic background, religion, or political affiliation. He added that the implication that one must dress or speak in a certain way to prove Ghanaian identity undermines the very foundation of national unity.
Mr. Gunu also expressed concern over reports that travelers were sometimes required to leave their vehicles and walk across checkpoint barriers under difficult weather conditions or at odd hours. He described such practices as humiliating and particularly burdensome for elderly persons, pregnant women, persons living with disabilities, and families traveling with young children.
He stressed that the effectiveness of any security operation should not only be measured by its ability to detect threats, but also by the extent to which it protects the dignity and welfare of the people it serves.
The Minister said the restoration of the checkpoints to their intended purpose carries significance beyond administrative reform, describing it as an opportunity to rebuild trust between citizens and security institutions. He said it sends a strong signal that security can coexist with professionalism, fairness, and respect for human rights.
Mr. Gunu commended President Mahama and the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, for what he described as decisive leadership in restoring the checkpoints to their proper role. He said the President’s actions demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusive governance and the protection of civil liberties.
He also urged officers stationed at the checkpoints to support the implementation of the new policy by conducting themselves professionally and treating all travelers with dignity, respect, and fairness. According to him, the conduct of security personnel will be central to ensuring that the reform delivers the intended change and strengthens public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
Mr. Gunu said the discussion around inland checkpoints ultimately reflects a broader national question about the kind of Ghana citizens want to build — one where every person, regardless of region or background, is treated with dignity and where security institutions inspire confidence rather than fear.
He concluded that the restoration of the checkpoints is not merely an administrative correction, but a reaffirmation of a fundamental democratic principle: that all Ghanaians are equal before the law and equally deserving of justice, dignity, and respect