Resolution of cross-border boundary dispute: Ghana ratifies ‘Niamey Convention’

The National Coordinator of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General W.Kotia has emphasized the nation’s commitment to promoting cross-border cooperation with its neighbours.

Speaking at a press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information on Tuesday, he announced that Ghana has signed and is expected to deposit the instrument of ratification of the Niamey Convention with the AU Commission in July this year.

Ghana is among the nine out of fifty-five (55) AU Member states that have ratified the Convention on Cross-border Co-operation known as the ‘Niamey Convention.”

The 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 26th to 27th June 2014, adopted the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, known as the Niamey Convention. The Niamey Convention aims to promote cross-border cooperation and to ensure peaceful resolutions of border disputes.

The media encounter was used to commemorate African Border Day which is celebrated on June 7 to reflect on the implementation of initiatives to promote cross-border cooperation and integration among member states.

The ratification of the Convention would contribute to the development of border communities in infrastructure and foster economic growth by creating employment opportunities.

The Boundary Commission is basically to reaffirm, demarcate and delimit Ghana’s international land and maritime boundaries thus ensuring the respect for the territorial sovereignty of Ghana.

It has so far contributed to the setting of the Joint Technical Committee to resolve the land boundary dispute between Ghana and Togo, the formation of joint Technical community Sensitization between Ghana and Togo for land reaffirmation exercise, and more