Regional integration will enhance development – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama last Wednesday, November 26, 2014 said Ghana and Togo have done a lot to demonstrate to other West African countries the extent of integration.
He mentioned the joint inauguration of common borders at Akanu and Noepe in the Volta Region and a railway line at Agbawoeme in Aflao as some of the integration projects.
President Mahama said this when he and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe jointly inaugurated a railway line at Agbawoeme, near Aflao in the Volta Region.
The joint inauguration of the railway project also climaxed President Gnassingbe’s three-day state visit to Ghana, where he participated in a number of bilateral and business discussions.
The 23-kilometre railway, which was jointly constructed by Wacem Company in Togo and Diamond Cement in Ghana, is to cart diamond cement from the factory to the communities around Aflao and across the border to Lome.
The project, which cost eight million dollars, was undertaken by Togo Railways with Technical advice from Ghana Railways Company.
President Mahama said Ghana and Togo would further build stronger links backed by “joint permanent agreements and partnerships that were signed so many decades ago between the two countries.”
“We discussed a lot on socio-economic development partnerships during his three-day visit to Ghana and I believe that these projects, when executed, would be helpful to our people.”
President Mahama said their discussions focused on potable water, electricity, agriculture and fisheries and more partnerships would later be discussed to deepen their relations.
Togbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V,Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, called for a collaboration between the two countries to open up the area and consequently create jobs for the youth.
He appealed to the leaders of both countries to institute measures that would enable them to open the borders for 24 hours to facilitate the movement of goods and services.
Source: GNA