Ghana-Togo border to be opened 24 hours

The Ghana-Togo border is to be opened for 24 hours soon, following a decision taken by President John Agyekum Kufuor and President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo at a meeting in Kara, Togo at the weekend. A statement from the Office of the President said the day's official visit was at the invitation of the President of Togo.

It said the visit, which was in the framework of the periodic consultations between the two Heads of State, was a mark of the excellent quality of friendship, brotherliness, co-operation and good neighbourliness between the Ghana and Togo.

The statement said Presidents Kufuor and Eyadema agreed that the Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation should be convened as early as possible. It said they discussed issues of mutual interest relating to the strengthening of the bilateral co-operation between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on matters of sub-regional and regional interest when they briefed each other on the evolution of the socio-political situation in their respective countries. On relations between the two countries, they agreed to work relentlessly to explore further ways of consolidating growth and development.

President Eyadema expressed the condolences of the government and people to Togo to Ghana and the bereaved families over the recent incidents in the Dagbon Traditional Area, which resulted in the loss of lives and property.

The statement said Presidents Kufuor and Eyadema commended the traditional co-operation between them on energy and re-affirmed their determination to harness their common efforts in order to increase the energy and hydraulic production capacities of countries in the sub-region.

On security, the statement said they reiterated their conviction that no viable development could be achieved within the sub-region without peace, security and stability. The two Presidents, therefore, re-affirmed their total adherence to the quadripartite agreement between Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and their attachment to the ECOWAS Mechanism on Conflict Prevention and Resolution.

President Kufuor and President Eyadema called for the immediate convening of a summit of member countries, which were signatories to the agreement in order to evaluate their implementation. On ECOWAS, they underscored the necessity to accelerate the integration of the sub-region through effective implementation of measures relating to the free movement of persons and goods, exchange liberalisation scheme and the infrastructure inter-connection programme.

The two Presidents further renewed their commitment to support all African initiatives and actions aimed at the consolidation of all economic and monetary groups such as UEMOA and ECOWAS, which constitute the main basis of the African Union.

The statement said the two Presidents reiterated their firm condemnation of terrorism and stressed the need for a collective organisation and mobilisation in order to combat the canker at all levels, national, sub-regional or international. President Kufuor commended President Eyadema for his firm commitment to peace, security and stability in Africa.

President Eyadema said President Kufuor was a statesman always ready to work for the consolidation of the fraternal, friendly links of co-operation and good neighbourliness among the countries and peoples of the sub-region, especially between Ghana and Togo. He accepted an invitation for a reciprocal visit to Ghana.