Ivorian security officers intensify patrols on Abbey Lagoon

The Ivorian national security has intensified patrols on their side of the Abbey lagoon to prevent the movement of boats across the water body after the closure of their border with Ghana on Friday.

The closure followed a reported attack on security officers at Noe, an Ivorian border post, by some unknown people in which four people were reported killed. The Abbey lagoon which is just a few metres from the Atlantic ocean, is divided by the 640 kilometre long border line between Cote Ivoire and Ghana.

The closure has affected the Saturday Weekly market at the Jewi Wharf, a border town near Half Assini, as people on the other side of the Lagoon are prevented from patronising the market.

Mr Nabila Moisob, a Deputy Superintendent of the Ghana Immigration Service In-charge of the Jewi Wharf border Post, made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Jewi Wharf, on Saturday.

According to him, as at 0900 hours on Saturday, activities at the hitherto brisk Jewi wharf market had almost come to standstill as no boat had arrived from the Ivorian side because of the closure of the border by the Ivorian government.

According to him, most travelers to Cote D’ Ivoire have encamped at the New Town and Jewi Wharf borders in Ghana, not knowing when they would be allowed into that country.

Reports reaching Jewi Wharf indicate that some Ghanaians travelers from Cote Ivoire are stranded at Tiapoum, Frambo and Big Assinie, all in Cote d’Ivoire, as result of the closure.

Source: GNA