Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire reaffirm 150km boundary

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have completed the first phase of a joint exercise to reaffirm their 150-kilometre international land boundary with the inauguration of 37 new boundary pillars.

The exercise, supervised by the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC), covered the 150-kilometre stretch of the common boundary and was funded by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the African Union Border Programme (AUBP).

The 37 pillars comprise one Terminus Pillar, 12 Main Pillars, 20 Intermediate Pillars and four Border Crossing Pillars, with the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces serving as the contractor.

They pillars were inaugurated at two separate ceremonies at New Town in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region and Diby, an Ivorian border community near Yaakase in the Enchi area of the Western North Region.

At New Town on Tuesday, the Terminus Pillar was inaugurated to mark the end of the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire international land boundary and the beginning of the international maritime boundary between the two countries.

At Diby on Thursday, International Boundary Pillar 48 (IBP48), which serves as both a Main Pillar and a Border Crossing Pillar, was also commissioned.

Speaking at the ceremonies, the Commissioner-General of the GhBC, Major General Anthony Ntem, said the newly constructed pillars would provide greater certainty over the territorial jurisdictions of the two countries and strengthen cooperation between them.

He said clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries were essential to the African Union’s vision of a borderless Africa, explaining that such boundaries would facilitate the movement of people, goods and services while promoting legitimate trade and regional integration.

“A borderless Africa does not mean an Africa without clearly defined boundaries. Rather, it is an Africa in which clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services, encourage legitimate trade and interaction, and create the certainty necessary for deeper regional integration,” he said.

Major General Ntem said the newly constructed pillars should be regarded as markers of certainty, cooperation and peaceful coexistence between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

He urged stakeholders, particularly communities along the boundary, to protect the pillars and support efforts to maintain peace and good relations between the two countries.

The Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr Diakalidia Konate, said the reaffirmation exercise was aimed at making the international boundary line more visible.

He commended members of the Joint Land Boundary Technical and Sub-Technical Committees for their work during the first phase and urged them to maintain their commitment as the second phase of the exercise was expected to begin later this year.

The German Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Matthias Veltin, said Germany remained committed to initiatives aimed at promoting African integration and cooperation.

He said this informed Germany’s partnership with the AUBP, through GIZ, to support African countries in the demarcation, reaffirmation and management of their common boundaries.

“GIZ’s support in this respect aims to prevent conflict along the borders,” he said, adding that African boundaries should serve as points of union and collaboration rather than separation.

The Western North Regional Minister, Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the pillars symbolised the commitment of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to maintaining the boundaries inherited at independence.

The completion of Phase One paves the way for Phase Two of the exercise, which will cover 400 kilometres under the supervision of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire.

BY TIMES REPORTER

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