Joseph Nelson is the Western Regional Minister
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has urged security personnel stationed at the Elubo border to maintain “extra vigilance” amidst an ongoing influx of Ivorian nationals fleeing election-related violence ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s general election on October 25, 2025.
Over 1,500 Ivorians have reportedly crossed into Ghana seeking refuge from the anticipated unrest, prompting a heightened security alert along the Ghana–Ivory Coast border.
According to a citinewsroom.com report on October 19, 2025, Nelson cautioned security officers to meticulously monitor all entries to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the country during a working visit to the border post.
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“The situation is still very fluid. And so, let’s keep our eyes on the inflows so that we can check the security side of things, so we don’t have any surprises any day in the future,” Nelson stated.
“The elections are coming on in October, as you know, and so as we approach the day, I believe that a lot more of them will come. So put yourself in readiness to receive them, and then, of course, with your eyes wide open, so we don’t get any criminals slipping through the system to pose a challenge to us as far as our security is concerned,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI) Joshua Krakue of the Elubo Command echoed the minister’s concerns, noting the challenge in distinguishing between genuine asylum seekers and regular travelers.
DCI Krakue explained that Ivorians often enter as “normal travellers” to take precautions against the potential violence, making it difficult for officers to identify those seeking safe haven.
“They end up maybe getting to the refugee camp to seek asylum. So, we have also noticed that the numbers are going up,” DCI Krakue said.
In Ivory Coast, thousands have fled ongoing post-election violence to Liberia, Ghana and Togo
He added that the movement is not characterised by large, panicked crowds, but rather individuals taking rational steps to leave the country until the political climate stabilises.
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