Ghana, 2 others deepen cross-border cooperation
Ghana, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire have begun separate bilateral engagements in Wa to strengthen cooperation among communities and local authorities along their shared borders.
The week-long meetings are focused on harmonising and validating legal texts to guide the establishment and operation of Local Groups for Cross-Border Cooperation (LGCBCs) between Ghana and each of the two neighbouring countries.
The initiative is expected to enhance dialogue, information sharing and joint action among local authorities, security agencies, communities and other state and non-state actors in border areas of the Upper West and Savannah regions.
Opening the first bilateral meeting between Ghana and Burkina Faso in Wa yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner-General of the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC), Mr Frederick Somuah Obeng, said the initiative would create robust and sustainable local structures to address common challenges and promote shared socio-economic development.
He said the proposed LGCBCs would provide a platform for local authorities and security agencies on both sides of the border to collaborate in tackling common challenges while identifying opportunities for mutual development.
Mr Somuah Obeng said the structures also had the potential to strengthen community resilience, promote local development and deepen social cohesion among border communities.
He stressed that the initiative formed part of broader bilateral agreements and conventions between Ghana and Burkina Faso and would help translate those agreements into practical action at the community level.
Mr Somuah Obeng commended Burkina Faso for its cooperation since the process began in 2024 and expressed appreciation to the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) for their technical and financial support.
The Upper West Regional Minister, who co-chaired the meeting, urged participants to actively contribute to the discussions, describing the validation process as critical to establishing sustainable cross-border cooperation.
The Governor of the Djoro Region and leader of the Burkina Faso delegation, Camarade Siaka Baro, expressed appreciation to the Ghana Boundary Commission, Burkina Faso’s National Boundary Secretariat and the political leadership of both countries for their commitment to strengthening cooperation.
He said stronger collaboration would improve the development prospects of communities living along the common boundary.
The West Africa Regional Coordinator of the African Union Border Programme Support Project (GIZ/AUBP), Mr Mamoudou Tapily, described the proposed LGCBCs as practical institutional mechanisms that would enable neighbouring local authorities to take joint action on issues affecting their communities.
He said the meetings provided an opportunity for the participating countries to harmonise their positions and work towards approving the legal texts governing the groups.
Mr Tapily urged participants to approach the process with technical rigour, a spirit of conciliation and a shared commitment to cross-border cooperation.
The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration among Ghanaian, Burkinabe and Ivorian border communities and contribute to building more peaceful, resilient and prosperous border areas.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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