Burkina-Faso and Ghana: Autographed a cross-border Cooperation Pact

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– The consensus would foster cross-border relations between the two nations to enable their collective growth. This has established part of the Africa Union (AU) Border Governance Strategy to roll the concept of international borders being barriers, and rather build bridges that promoted the development of the countries.

The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) augmented the tie of the agreement at a short meeting, following the drafting, review and negotiation of the cooperation Agreement by the two countries.

Valentin Schuetz – the Head of Programme, Border Governance at the GIZ, noted that the AU border governance strategy outlined pillars that constituted effective border governance to achieve the goal of “transforming boundaries from barriers into bridges.”

He remarked the pact was vital as it geared a reliable regime of cross-border cooperation between Ghana and neighboring states of Burkina-Faso.

Schuetz noted, the Cooperation Agreement would foster cooperation between border communities in Ghana and Burkina-Faso “in their legitimate interest to pursue their livelihoods.”

Colonel Henry Kwaku Badasu – the Chief of Staff at the Ghana Boundaries Commission, said the Commission was implementing projects slated at guaranteeing maximum cooperation and collaboration between the rural communities along Ghana’s borders.

“Currently, we are looking at the reaffirmation of the international boundaries handed to us by the colonial masters. The Commission is now engaged in, as part of the Africa Union Border programme, activities to reaffirm the boundaries that we have inherited,” Colonel Badasu stated.

He remarked that as part of the reaffirmation activities, Ghana had demarcated its boundaries with Togo and La Côte d’Ivoire and was building new border pillars with those countries, and the engagement with the Burkina-Faso counterparts was a process of also reaffirming Ghana’s boundaries with that country.

Stephen Yakubu, the Upper West Regional Minister, characterized the validation of the cooperation agreement as a right step towards building a framework that underscored the values of peace, shared prosperity and sustainability for the border regions.

“Climate and weather issues have long presented both challenges and opportunities, from trade and migration to security and resource management.

The ability to work together across borders is vital for fostering economic development and improving the livelihood of our people”, he explained.

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent