Climate change is driving increased migration from the Sahel into Ghana, putting additional pressure on communities and resources while creating emerging security concerns along the country’s northern borders, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has warned.
Felix Agyeman-Bosompem, Deputy Commissioner and Regional Commander of the GIS in the Upper East Region, said rising temperatures, drought, drying rivers and water bodies, and the loss of livelihoods and livestock were forcing more people to migrate into northern Ghana.
He made the remarks at Climate Talks 2026: Building Climate-Security Resilience in Ghana, organised by Media General in collaboration with the German Embassy on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Akayet Hotel in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
According to Mr Agyeman-Bosompem, the increasing movement of people into Ghana was putting additional pressure on local systems and resources and, in some instances, contributing to tensions between migrants and host communities.
He also expressed concern about the difficulty in identifying and monitoring some migrants because many enter Ghana without travel documents and use unofficial routes to cross the country’s borders.
“These people when coming in don’t come with travel documents that we can really tell that these are the kinds of people that we are admitting into our country. Majority of them are also not using the approved borders,” he said.
Mr Agyeman-Bosompem disclosed that the Upper East Region alone has 55 recognised unapproved crossing points, with new routes emerging frequently because of the difficult terrain.
“In this region alone, we have 55 recognised unapproved crossing entries and counting. You put officers here today and tomorrow another one is created,” he said.
The Regional Commander said the government was supporting the GIS to strengthen surveillance and security along Ghana’s borders despite resource constraints.
“The challenge has always been our resources but then the government is doing very well,” he added.
He disclosed that the GIS would soon deploy about 19 fully equipped anti-ballistic cabins at strategic locations across the region to monitor border activities.
The Service is also expected to deploy drones to help officers monitor hard-to-reach areas and respond more effectively to activities along the borders.
“We are doing what we can with support from government and other development partners,” Mr Agyeman-Bosompem said.
He further highlighted community engagement and community policing as important components of the GIS strategy for addressing emerging border security challenges.
The GIS Regional Commander stressed that climate change was increasingly influencing migration patterns and called for stronger measures to protect Ghana’s borders while addressing the challenges associated with climate-induced migration.
“Climate change is real and attracting people into our country, and then we need to put in more effort to ensure our country is safe,” he said.
The concerns highlight the growing link between climate change, migration and security, particularly in northern Ghana, where communities are already vulnerable to environmental and livelihood pressures.