Major General Emmanuel Kotia, the National Coordinator of the Ghana Boundary Commission, has assured Ghanaians that there are currently no boundary disputes between Ghana and any of its border countries concerning land demarcation.
According to him, this is one of the Boundary Commission’s proudest achievements.
Major General Kotia, speaking at the Ministry of Information Press Briefing, emphasised the importance of the Boundary Commission to Ghana’s protection, saying that the Commission, in collaboration with the relevant Ghanaian security agencies, ensures the security of Ghana’s borders to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity at all times.
The Major General stated that the Ghana Boundary Commission is and will continue to undertake reaffirmation, which is always done in collaboration with bordering nations. “No new demarcations are being done, and the ones that have been done have been done successfully through negotiations,” he added.
He noted that the Commission’s activities include mapping exercises, multi-agency evaluations, meetings with the National Boundary Commissions of Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Nigeria, as well as joint technical discussions with the same nations.
They also assist in boundary dispute resolution, cross-boundary governance and strategic policy framework among many others.
By way of mandate, the Major General explained that his outfit is also responsible for leading negotiations with neighbouring countries concerning land and maritime boundary disputes between Ghana and any of its border countries.
He added that the Commission undertakes physical demarcations of Land boundaries and the delimitation of maritime boundaries.
The National Coordinator added that as part of their key strategic roles, they identify very deprived communities in the border areas and provide for them, some basic social amenities. By this he announced that ECOWAS has approved some funds for the rehabilitation of a community school in one of these deprived border communities, stressing that “Our strategic role among others is to assist deprived communities”
He used the opportunity to appeal to International partners, donors and various agencies who can support this agenda to come on board to help these deprived border communities get basic social amenities and also serve as a way of building their confidence.
On behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Deputy Minister responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio who joined the Commission at the briefing announced 7th June 2023 as the African Border Day.
He said the Day which is commemorated annually on 7th June by African Union Member States in the context of the implementation of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), aims at addressing the persistence of lack of delimitation and demarcation of African boundaries resulting in the creation of undefined zones; to facilitate and support the delimitation and demarcation of African boundaries; and to develop cross-border initiatives among AU Member States.
“The Boundary Commission has been very active over the past three years. Under the able leadership of the National Coordinator, Major General Emmanuel Kotia, the Commission has been parading the length and breadth of Ghana’s boundaries ensuring that various mishaps along the country’s international boundaries are attended to”
He urged the media to help promote the Commission, noting that “as a relatively new institution, most Ghanaians do not know of the existence of the Commission. Those who do, do not know the exact mandate of the Commission and how different the Commission is from other border management institutions so do help push the agenda”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
