Elubo border town lacks streetlights creating security risks

Elubo, a major Ghanaian border town, suffers from a critical lack of streetlights, creating significant security risks. For years, the town has operated with inadequate illumination, impacting residents and border security operations along the frontier with the Ivory Coast. This persistent darkness hinders visibility, making it easier for illegal activities to occur.

The absence of functioning streetlights in Elubo, located in the Jomoro Municipal District, affects its 23,952 residents. While some streetlights exist, many are non-functional or entirely absent. The primary source of light comes from private homes, leaving most streets in darkness after nightfall. This condition extends even to the border post area. Residents like Asantewaa, a food vendor, and Kwame Amponsah, a motor rider, have lived with this reality for decades. Amponsah pointed out the neighbouring Ivorian town of Noe, stating it has lights while Elubo remains in the dark. Many residents feel neglected by the government.

This lack of infrastructure goes beyond mere inconvenience; it represents a serious national security issue. Research from organisations like the OECD highlights that improved infrastructure and stronger state presence in frontier communities can enhance border management, reduce smuggling, and improve intelligence gathering. Elubo's current state falls short of these recognised standards. Effective border security relies on visibility, presence, and control. Darkness severely weakens all three, making unauthorised crossings and cross-border crime more difficult to detect and prevent, according to EU border surveillance frameworks.

Security analysts warn that the persistent darkness creates blind spots. These gaps allow individuals and goods to move undetected, facilitating smuggling and other illicit activities. The problem has persisted despite the town's strategic importance as a gateway between Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The situation in Elubo suggests a neglect of critical infrastructure in areas vital for national security, contrasting with the well-lit conditions in some neighbouring towns in the Ivory Coast.

The implications of this sustained neglect are far-reaching. It not only compromises the safety and security of Elubo's residents but also poses a direct challenge to Ghana's ability to control its borders effectively. Decision-makers must address the lack of streetlights urgently to restore visibility, strengthen security presence, and regain control over border movements. Future surveillance operations and efforts to combat cross-border crime will continue to be hampered unless this fundamental infrastructure deficit is resolved.