Ghana has officially moved toward a "smart border" era, activating a sophisticated biometric tracking system designed to bolster national security while accelerating the flow of trade across its frontiers.

The announcement was made by the Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, during the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues which ended on February 6, 2026.

The move signals Ghana’s commitment to making the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a reality by replacing slow, manual checks with intelligence-driven technology.

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Mohammed-Mubarak emphasised that security and trade are two sides of the same coin. He argued that for integration to succeed, African borders must evolve.

“A borderless Africa does not mean borderless security; it means smart borders,” the minister stated.

“Without security, trade cannot flourish, and without orderly mobility, integration cannot succeed,” he added.

He pointed to a significant security challenge: while Ghana has 48 approved entry points, there are over 250 unapproved crossings exploited by criminal networks for trafficking and illicit trade.

To mitigate these risks, the government has deployed Biometric Passenger Monitoring technology.

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Beyond security, the initiative aims to protect vulnerable traders. The minister acknowledged that women and youth-led SMEs often face harassment and administrative delays at borders.

To combat this, the Interior Ministry is working with trade and customs officials to streamline procedures to reduce the "paperwork mountain" that slows down trade among other things.

Mohammed-Mubarak called for the African Union to establish a continental biometric identity framework.

By linking national digital ID systems to a unified standard, Africa could finally achieve a truly integrated economic bloc where movement is secure, accountable, and fast.

VPO/EB

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