Upper East and South Central Region of Burkina Faso strengthen cooperation

Bolgatanga, Nov 1, GNA- Two Regions, one in Ghana and the other in Burkina Faso on Wednesday, agreed to strengthen the friendly relationship between them and work towards promoting free movement of people, good and services between the two countries. This would be done by educating the people to acquire the appropriate travel documents and working towards the removal of trade barriers.

This was contained in a communiqu=E9 issued in Bolgatanga after a two-day meeting of the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari and the Governor of the South Central Region of Burkina Faso, Madam Pauline Hien Winkoun.

District and Municipal Chief Executives, security personnel and heads of departments of the two regions also attended. On border security and road transportation, they lauded the already existing collaboration between the security agencies and said they would improve upon it by holding formal and informal meetings and exchange information on the activities of criminals. The two regions would also collaborate on common health issues that affect their people, like, HIV/AIDS, Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) and polio vaccinations through joint review meetings, clinical care, strengthening of communicable disease surveillance, and exchange of ideas on national and local innovations.

The two regions adopted the Protocol on the World Union for Nature and agreed to develop and protect wildlife corridors to serve the good purpose of protecting wildlife, biodiversity and the natural resources. They asked that women from the two regions collaborate and enhance trade between them; learning new skills from each other and helping find market for their products.

They urged districts in the two regions that had not linked up in the spirit of sister-city relationship to do so, saying; "Good relationship can help us share natural resources, knowledge and skills." The Education Services of both regions would also exchange teachers, have joint cultural festivals and sporting activities, they said.

Earlier, during the meeting, security personnel from the South Central Region of Burkina Faso complained that their drivers and traders who travel through Ghana were being harassed at the borders and the numerous security checks along the Tema-Paga roads. In reaction, the Ghanaian security personnel explained that many of the people did not have the right travel documents and used only their identity cards, which were not acceptable in the country.