A security expert is urging Ghana’s security personnel to transition from a supremacy battle to cooperative security efforts to prevent clashes among different agencies. 

Mr. Anthony Acquaye, the Executive Director of the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, emphasized that the era of one security agency claiming dominance over another is outdated.

Speaking on the Citizens Show hosted by Nana Otu Darko on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Mr. Acquaye explained that each security agency in Ghana has a specific mandate within its jurisdiction according to the country’s security architecture. 

He stressed that no single agency is superior to the others.

Mr. Acquaye's remarks were in response to a recent clash between personnel from the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the Aflao border in the Volta Region.

 He clarified that both agencies have constitutional mandates to collect revenue at the border: Customs is responsible for revenue from imports, while the Immigration Service handles cross-border fees, visa fees, and resident permit fees.

He highlighted the need for security bodies such as the police, military, customs, prison, and immigration services to adopt a mindset of collaborative security and information sharing. “We are in an era of collaborative security, not a battle of supremacy,” Mr. Acquaye stated.

Citing examples from developed countries, Mr. Acquaye pointed out that border security often involves multiple agencies like the police and military working together without competing for supremacy. 

He called for strong leadership to foster inter-agency collaboration within Ghana’s security framework.

Mr. Acquaye concluded by noting that clashes arising from supremacy battles in the line of duty are becoming too frequent, and a shift towards cooperative security practices is essential for the country's stability and safety.