Ghana has rolled out a biometric tracking system to enhance border security and facilitate legitimate trade, Minister of the Interior, Hon Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced at the second day of African Prosperity Dialogue 2026.
Delivering his keynote address at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Thursday, 5th February 2026, Hon Muntaka highlighted the need for a modern, intelligence-driven approach to border management to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Without security, trade cannot flourish, and without orderly mobility, integration cannot succeed,” he said, emphasising that Africa’s borders must act as bridges for prosperity rather than barriers.
The Interior Minister explained that Ghana, with 48 legitimate border crossing points and over 250 unapproved ones, faces significant security challenges, including trafficking, terrorism, and illicit flows. To tackle these risks while enabling free movement, the government has introduced a biometric system that tracks passengers entering the country.
Since November 2025, the system has allowed authorities to know who is boarding flights and their seating arrangements before takeoff. Plans are underway to integrate this technology across land, sea, and other crossing points, ensuring that border enforcement is targeted and intelligence-led, rather than broad and indiscriminate.
Hon. Muntaka stressed that small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by women and youth, face delays and harassment at borders. He noted that non-tariff barriers, excessive documentation, and fragmented enforcement undermine the objectives of AfCFTA.
To address these issues, the Interior Ministry is working closely with the Trade Ministry, customs, and security agencies to reduce friction for traders through transparent procedures, grievance mechanisms, and regional cooperation.
“Regional cooperation, such as harmonised protocols and one-stop border posts, has already shown promise in reducing delays and corruption,” he said, highlighting the importance of joint operations and intelligence sharing across countries.
The Minister further called for the implementation of a continental biometric identity system under the African Union, linking national digital IDs to continental standards. Such a system would enable real-time traceability, risk profiling, and efficient processing, facilitating legitimate movement while enhancing security.
“A borderless Africa does not mean borderless security; it means smart borders,” Hon. Muntaka said, adding that mobility must be intelligent, accountable, and technology-driven.
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