Ghana and Togo to deepen bilateral ties
Ghana and Togo have resolved to deepen co-operation as well as strengthen the ties of friendship that exist between them.
Both countries have agreed to co-operate in the sectors of security, immigration, agriculture and water, health, trade, digital economy, environment, energy, transport and the issue of maritime borders.
A communiqué issued at the end of the official visit of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the Republic of Togo noted that, together with President Faure Gnassingbe, both leaders have indicated their willingness to activate “the high level permanent joint Commission of co-operation between the two countries.”
The two leaders on Wednesday visited the Joint Border Post at Noepe and Akanu. Despite the commissioning of the post some three years ago, it is yet to function.
Thus, the two presidents instructed their respective ministers to speed up the interconnection of Customs IT systems so as to operationalise the post to aid in the free movement of goods and persons across the Ghana/Togo border.
With reference to agriculture which is the single largest occupation of the populace of both countries, the two leaders called for the intensification of technical co-operation and the exchange of experience between the two countries, particularly in aquaculture and the development of coffee, cocoa and cashew nuts.
On the Sogakopé-Lomé Drinking Water Supply Project, the two heads of state stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the project as its ripple effects would be of immense benefit to their countries.
President Akufo-Addo and President Gnassingbe expressed their determination to strengthen actions to combat illegal timber trade and tasked their respective ministers to put in place the appropriate mechanisms to this end.Touching on the continuation of the programme of electrification of the localities along the borders of their respective countries, the two countries renewed their commitment to ensuring the completion of the joint hydroelectric dam project in Juale.
In the area of road infrastructure, the two presidents instructed their respective ministers to seek funding in the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), framework for the construction and rehabilitation of the roads linking Kemerida-Kara-Nachamba in Togo and Tatale-Yendi in Ghana.
Addressing the issue of common borders between the two countries, President Gnassingbe and President Akufo-Addo agreed to give priority to high level dialogue instead of resorting to the courts to answer the delimitation of their maritime boundaries on the basis of the principle of equity and the right of each country to have a sea front.
At the end of his visit President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to President Gnassingbe for the warm and fraternal welcome extended to him and his delegation.
He extended an invitation to him to pay a reciprocal visit to Ghana, an invitation which was accepted by President Gnassingbe.
Source:GNA