Ghana Launches SHIFT Project for West Africa Border Security: €7.3 Million EU Funding

• Ghana has launched the SHIFT project to strengthen border management and tackle terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime in West Africa.
• The €7.3 million EU-funded project will be implemented by ICMPD over 48 months in collaboration with national border agencies and security institutions.
• The initiative aims to enhance national and regional security, promote economic growth, and foster cross-border cooperation across the region.

The initiative seeks to strengthen and harmonise Integrated Border Management (IBM) practices across participating countries to enhance national and regional security, promote economic growth, and foster cross-border cooperation.

Ghana has launched the SHIFT project, a major regional border security initiative backed by €7.3 million in European Union funding. The project aims to strengthen border management and tackle terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime across West Africa. The 48-month project will be implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in collaboration with national border agencies, security institutions, civil society organisations, and citizens across the region.

The inaugural meeting of the National Project Steering Committee was held at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Headquarters in Accra. Key stakeholders attended the meeting, including representatives from the European Union, ICMPD, other security agencies, and civil society organisations.

The SHIFT project is a response to growing security threats in West Africa, including porous borders, terrorism spillover from the Sahel, transnational organised crime, socio-economic challenges, and limited state presence in some border communities. The initiative seeks to strengthen and harmonise Integrated Border Management (IBM) practices across participating countries to enhance national and regional security, promote economic growth, and foster cross-border cooperation.

The project will be implemented in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, with Burkina Faso participating in regional-level interventions. The EU funding of €7.3 million is a significant boost to border security efforts in the region.

The implementation of the SHIFT project has significant implications for cross-border transactions and operations in West Africa. Lawyers advising clients on such matters should be aware of the potential impact of strengthened border management and cooperation across the region.

The project's focus on improving communication among security agencies, institutionalising the GIS Information Exchange Mechanism (IEM), and promoting sustained security and development is crucial for regional stability and economic growth.

Lawyers advising clients on cross-border transactions or operations in West Africa should watch for the implementation of the SHIFT project, which aims to strengthen border management and tackle terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime across the region.

Source: Original reporting via Ghana News