Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have jointly commissioned 37 newly constructed International Boundary Pillars in two historic related events at New Town in Ghana and Diby in Cote d’Ivoire.
The events mark the successful completion of Phase 1 of the Joint Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Land Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise, which was supervised by the Ghana Boundary Commission covering a total distance of 150 km.
The 37 newly constructed pillars, fully funded by the GIZ and the African Union Border Programme, with the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces as the project contractors, comprise 1 Terminus, 12 Main Pillars, 20 Intermediate Pillars, and four Border Crossing Pillars.
The first ceremony, held on Tuesday at New Town in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana, commissioned the Terminus Pillar, the International Boundary Pillar that marks the end of the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire International Land Boundary and the beginning of the International Maritime Boundary between the two countries.
The second, held on Thursday at Diby, an Ivorian border community adjacent to Yaakase in the Enchi general area of the Western North Region, commissioned IBP48, which serves as both a main and a border crossing pillar.
Speaking at the events, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC), Major General Anthony Ntem, highlighted that newly constructed pillars reinforce the African Union’s vision of a borderless Africa where clarity over the territorial jurisdiction of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will continuously serve as the backbone for cooperation between the two states.
“A borderless Africa does not mean an Africa without clearly defined boundaries. Rather, it is an Africa in which clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services; encourage legitimate trade and interaction; and create the certainty necessary for deeper regional integration.
“It is an Africa where boundaries connect rather than divide, and where clarity over territorial jurisdiction provides a foundation for cooperation from communities living along the boundary to the highest levels of government,” the Commissioner General noted.
Major General Ntem further noted that “the strength of a united and integrated Africa depends on certainty, trust, and cooperation among sovereign states, which clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries, established through delimitation, demarcation, and reaffirmation, provides.”
The Commissioner General thus urged all stakeholders to see the newly constructed pillars as markers of certainty, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence, providing a firm foundation upon which the historic ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire can continue to grow.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Diakalidia Konate, said that the reaffirmation exercise aims to make the International Boundary Line more visible.
He expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the members of the Joint Land Boundary Technical and Sub-Technical Committes for the work done during the first phase and encouraged them to show the same level of commitment and dedication to the process, as Phase 2 of the reaffirmation exercise is expected to commence later this year.
The German Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, HE Matthias Veltin, indicated the German Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at promoting African integration and cooperation.
This, he said, is one of the main reasons why the German Government has partnered with the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) through its implementing agency, GIZ, to support African countries in the demarcation, reaffirmation, and management of their common boundaries.
HE Veltin further added that “GIZ’s support in this respect aims to prevent conflict along the borders.”
He concluded by saying that African boundaries should not separate people. Rather, they should point to union and collaboration.
The Regional Minister for the Western North, Wilbert Petty Brentum, speaking on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, noted that newly constructed pillars symbolises the joint efforts of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to fulfiling the pledge made by both countries in 1964 when many African states agreed to maintain the colonially inherited boundaries.
Mr. Brentum further noted that Ghana prioritises its boundary reaffirmation and management because it provides government clarity to govern responsibly and inclusively.
He thus encouraged all participating stakeholders, most especially the leadership and residents of the border areas, to protect the boundary pillars and serve as strong ambassadors of peace, cooperation, and good neighbourliness between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The successful completion of the Phase 1 Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire International Land Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise paves the way for the commencement of Phase 2, which will cover a total distance of 400 km under the supervision of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire.
