Ghana-Togo Border To Be Opened On 24-Hour Basis

The Ghana -Togo Border is scheduled to be opened on a 24-hour basis after Assembly elections in Togo next month. The two countries have agreed on the creation of a technical committee, which will study the feasibility of opening the border between them. The committee, to be chaired by Togo, would comprise government officials and representatives of the private sector from both sides.

Representing their respective countries, Regional Integration and Economic Co-operation Ministers of Ghana and Togo, Paa Kwesi Nduom and Joseph Kokou Kofigo held lengthy discussions in Lome, Togo on Thursday to negotiate terms for the opening of the border and other issues of mutual benefit, including the sharing of water resources.

The Ghana-Togo border is currently opens from 6am to 6pm and this is causing lots of problems for traders and other commuters. At the same meeting, Togo indicated her acceptance of Ghana’s nomination for the position of ECOWAS Executive Secretary. However, it is not clear whether Togo’s acceptance of the nomination of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, MP for Bimbilla, is a show of support for Ghana’s bid for the administrative position within the grouping of West African countries.

After bilateral talks on trade and relations with his Togolese counterpart, Joseph Kokou Kofigoh, in Lome, Togo, Regional Integration and Economic Co-operation Minister, Dr. Kwesi Nduom explained to JOY FM that the support expected from Togo in the ECOWAS bid is still being negotiated by the Presidents of both countries.

The ECOWAS Fund, headed by a Ghanaian, Dr. Yankey, a Ghanaian has prompted criticism that Ghana is asking for too much soliciting support for Dr. Chambas. However, Dr. Nduom said it is only fair that an Anglophone country, this time round, Ghana, is given the opportunity to hold the position.