Ghanaian authorities are on high alert following reports that more than 1,500 Ivorians have crossed the border into Ghana ahead of Ivory Coast’s crucial presidential election slated for Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The election sees incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, seeking what he strongly hints will be his final term, while touting nearly 15 years of sustained economic growth and relative stability.

However, the political tension has led to Ivorians fleeing potential post-election violence, prompting heightened security measures along the Ghana–Ivory Coast border.

A citinewsroom.com report on October 19, 2025, cited a working visit to the border post by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, where he cautioned officers to meticulously monitor all entries.

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The warning was specifically aimed at preventing criminal elements from infiltrating Ghana amid the influx of people.

"The situation is still very fluid. And so, let’s keep our eyes on the inflows so that we can check the security side of things, so we don’t have any surprises any day in the future," Nelson stated.

Anticipating a greater surge as the election day nears, he added, "The elections are coming on in October, as you know, and so as we approach the day, I believe that a lot more of them will come. So put yourself in readiness to receive them, and then, of course, with your eyes wide open, so we don’t get any criminals slipping through the system to pose a challenge to us as far as our security is concerned."

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Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI) Joshua Krakue of the Elubo Command echoed the concerns, noting the significant challenge his officers face in distinguishing between genuine asylum seekers and regular travelers.

DCI Krakue explained that Ivorians frequently enter Ghana as "normal travellers" to preemptively guard against potential violence, making it difficult for officers to immediately identify those seeking safe haven.

"They end up maybe getting to the refugee camp to seek asylum. So, we have also noticed that the numbers are going up," DCI Krakue said.

He clarified that the movement is not characterised by large, panicked crowds, but rather individuals and families taking rational steps to leave their country temporarily until the political climate.

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