Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo to forge common front
Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo have instituted a platform to forge a common front to pursue aggressive political, economic and social development of member states.
At the close of a three-day tripartite meeting held in Dapaong in Northern Togo, the group issued a communiqué to spell out their intentions in the fight against trans-border crimes and other related issues.
The communiqué which was jointly by the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, the High Commissioner of Koulpélgo in the Central-East Region of Burkina Faso, Monsieur Pangnon A. Tierou, Monsieur Laurent Lamine Traore, Governor of Central South Region of Burkina Faso, and El-Hadj Mossyamba Ali Seydou, the Prefect (Municipal Chief Executive) of Tône in Togo.
The group stressed among other things the need for security forces within to undertake exchange visits to familiarize themselves with security operations of member states, facilitate the free and quick movement of people, vehicles and goods, and to ensure that cattle herdsmen and traders carried along with them all the appropriate documents.
The tripartite group recommended that greenery space be created to allow grazing by animals from member countries to be known as tripartite integration space as well as the need to encourage group members to intensify border patrols to fight border crimes.
They suggested the creation and organization of trans-border consultations among those involved in the transportation of animals, farmers, cattle breeders, cattle traders, land owners and territorial communities in order to preserve spaces earmarked for the purpose.
In the area of agriculture, the members proposed consensual measures to help fight increasing unregistered agro-chemicals and the commercialization of unauthorized herbicides imported into member countries.
The group proposed fast trucking procedures involved in the delivering of valid vehicle documents in among member states.
They recommended the institution of elaborate trans-border programmes against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and make special provisions for immediate attention to victims and appropriate sanctions for culprits.
On child trafficking, the recommendations made by the group were that there should be the formation of trans-border committees to fight against human trafficking and all forms of ill-treatment of children. According to them, the members should vote funds for all committees set under the group to successfully run activities.
They recommended exchange programmes in sports and culture by member states as part of efforts to maintain cohesion among the people and exchange programmes could be done by instituting a ‘triangular’’ cup competition at schools level.
The meeting which is in its fourth year was to reinforce social, political and economic integration and strengthen security and peace among these neighbouring countries. It was to help address common issues and to give the countries opportunity to exchange strategies for sustainable development.
Source: GNA