Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo sign Communiqu=E9

Bolgatanga, July 5, GNA - The Upper East of Ghana, Central East of Burkina Faso and Savannah Regions of Togo at the weekend issued a communiqu=E9 at Bolgatanga after-a three day conference aimed at strengthening trans-border cooperation and peaceful coexistence among their people.

The Communiqu=E9 was signed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, the Governor of Central East of Burkina Faso, Mr. Simmeon Sawadogo and the District Chief Executive of Savannah Region of Togo, Alhaji Ali Seydou Mossiyamba.

The communiqu=E9 stressed strengthening regional cooperation among the security agencies to fight cross-border crime, facilitate the movement of goods and people through effective implementation of the ECOWAS protocol, and eliminate illegal mining with support of the security services of the three regions as well as track down and eliminate counterfeit currencies.

It spoke about the need to sensitize chiefs, religious and opinion leaders who engage in female genital mutilation to desist from such negative practices and to also enforce laws banning such practices, create websites in each region for information sharing on Female Genital Mutilation.

The communiqu=E9 expressed regret for practices where some women were accused of witchcraft and banished and therefore stressed the need for the three regions to embark on sensitization programme to protect these vulnerable people. The communiqu=E9 also stated the need for educational exchanges of French and English teachers and students between the Anglophone and Francophone regions to promote the teaching and learning of French and English.

It further called for the strengthening of sports and cultural exchanges among the Regions to foster close integration and to also participate in sporting and cultural activities organized by the Regions at their independence anniversary celebrations. The leaders of the three regions were however happy that they have been able to chalk some success since the formation of the Trans-border tripartite in 2009 in Tenkodogo in Burkina Faso which include crime combat, free movement of goods and people among others..