Residents of Elubo in the Western Region are billed to march against the Akufo-Addo government’s closure of the land borders, which they say has gravely affected their livelihoods and businesses.

The march comes in the wake of a similar demonstration held by residents of Ketu South in the Volta Region.

One of the conveners of the demonstration, Mr Emmanuel Benley, told the media in an interview: “The demonstration is going to be held at Elubo in the Western Region”.

“We are starting 7 am this morning”, he said.

The reasons for the demonstration, he said, are “the prolonged closure of the land borders” which has affected livelihoods and collapsed businesses.

According to him, “a lot of people are suffering, so, I think once the airport has been opened to passengers, we think that the land borders should be opened”.

“And moreover, we are learning that most of the ECOWAS countries have opened their land borders to passengers and goods except Ghana”.

“So, for example, in Cote d’Ivoire, they’ve opened their land borders to passengers and goods to Mali and Guinea-Conakry; and Togo, as well, has opened its borders to Burkina Faso and Benin for goods and passengers as well”.

“It appears it is only Ghana that is closing its borders to passengers and allowing only goods”.

“So, we think that it is not fair to keep our land borders closed”.

He said the demonstrators will adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

“We have agreed to follow the COVID protocols, we are going to distribute nose masks to the demonstrators, we are going to observe social distancing and it’s going to be a peaceful one, no one is going to misbehave”, he said.

“So, the conveners have agreed to make sure that all demonstrators follow the laid-down rules and regulations.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Communication at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, has announced that President Akufo-Addo will review the restrictions on land border movement if need be.

He told the presidential press corps at the Jubilee House on Monday, 30 August 2021 that: “President Akufo-Addo understands the difficulties people have had to go through” as a result of “the restrictions that have been imposed on lives and livelihoods”, adding: “I believe if there is the need for them to review whatever aspects of the restrictions, he will make it known when he addresses the nation”.

The president closed the borders in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic entered the country.

It was one of the many emergency measures put in place as part of the onslaught on the pandemic.