Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union (AU) Commission – His Excellency (HE) Bankole Adeoye, has commended the Government and People of Ghana for ratifying the AU Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation.
HE Adeoye made these remarks during a ceremony in which a Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) delegation, led by its National Coordinator – Major General (Maj Gen) Emmanuel Kotia, deposited the Instruments of Ratification of the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation (also known as the Niamey Convention), at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday 4 September 2023.
He further praised the GhBC for the strides made within the few years of its existence, and expressed appreciation and excitement at its work as one of the vibrant Commissions in Africa, whose objectives have been geared towards the preventing of boundary conflicts along the international land and maritime boundaries of Ghana and its neighbours.
HE Commissioner Adeoye mentioned that he had monitored the work of the GhBC with neighbouring Boundary Commissions of Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso, and was impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm of the Commission.
He expressed support to Ghana’s boundary commission for the its proposed upcoming conference on Maritime Boundaries and International Law in Africa, as well as using the GhBC as the lead advocate for the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, on the African continent. The AU Commissioner assured the GhBC that his Commission would support Ghana’s activities through the African Union Border Programme (AUBP).
The Commissioner used the opportunity to thank the President of Ghana – HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for his lead role in the safeguarding of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa, and further extolled him for consistently supporting the implementation of AU Protocols and Conventions, since he assumed office in 2017.
Earlier, Maj Gen Kotia had briefed the AU Commissioner on the Plan of Action for the next six months and activities of the GhBC, assuring the AU of the continuous dedication of the Commission to the tenets of the AU Convention on Border and Boundary Management.
Ghana signed the Agreement to the African Union Cross-Border Convention on 4 July 2017, and it was further ratified by the Parliament of Ghana on 9 February 2023, thus making her the 8th African country to ratify the Niamey Convention.
The GhBC delegation to the AU Commission included the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), officials of the Ghana Embassy in Ethiopia and staff of the GhBC.
Credits: Ghana Boundary Commission PR
