Mahama calls for removal of illegal barriers

President John Dramani Mahama on Monday called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to work towards the removal of illegal barriers that had over the years impeded intra-trade in the sub-region.

The removal, he said would step up intra-Regional trade, which was abysmally wallowing between 12 and 15 percent in the sub-region.

President Mahama said this when he jointly inaugurated a border post at Noepe in the Volta Region.

The common border, which falls in line with the ECOWAS proposed harmonization of tariffs at their frontiers, would reduce trade and logistics costs, increase intra- regional trade and give meaning to the ECOWAS protocol of free movements of persons and goods.

Its implementation would also foster cooperation and cross border security, information, ease trade activities because of the combination of customs clearance by both countries at the same place through sharing of data and fighting smuggling.

The building which is finance by the ECOWAS in collaboration with the European Union is made up of; main administration block, customs brigade, inspection bay, customs warehouse, entry gate control post, Weigh Bridge and scanner control rooms and maintenance services.

The rest are; fire service, commercial services, health services, pedestrian control, veterinary services, rest shelter and washrooms for pedestrians among other things.

President Mahama said it was unacceptable for the security agencies at various points to continue to delay persons, goods and services in the sub-region, while intra-trade among other continents were growing on daily basis.

He said the inauguration of the border post which is one out of three in the sub region would serve as the first step of integrating the sub-region to carry out activities in common.

The President said the joint border activities would also facilitate the documentation of goods and services since they would be using modern equipment to replace the manual activities that had been in used.

President Mahama said ECOWAS would confront the truth by stepping up intra-trade that would make them independent of other international countries and organization.

He commended the European Union for supporting the ECOWAS to establish the border posts in the sub region.

Mr Kadre Desire Quedraogo, President of ECOWAS Commission, said the joint border posts would facilitate the regional integration that had over the years been proposed by various ECOWAS member countries.

He called on workers at the post to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the facility in order to improve and develop the economies of the two countries in the coming years.

The programme was also attended by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, his Prime Minister, a representative of the European Union and Ambassadors of both countries.