The Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) has been diligently working over the years to reaffirm, demarcate, and delimit Ghana’s international land and maritime boundaries. These efforts are aimed at ensuring the country’s territorial sovereignty is always respected.
During a press briefing in Accra, Major General Emmanuel W. Kotia, the National Coordinator for the Ghana Boundary Commission, highlighted the Commission’s mandate and its strategic objectives as outlined by the law. He emphasized that the Commission’s work has broader implications for safeguarding the country’s territory in collaboration with various stakeholders within and outside Ghana.
Major General Kotia discussed the major land boundary activities undertaken by the Commission, such as the Multi-agency Mapping and Operational exercises in the Northern Corridor (Ghana-Burkina Faso) and the Joint Land Boundary Commission consultative meeting with Burkina Faso. In the Western Corridor (Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire), mapping exercises, multi-agency assessments, and meetings with the National Boundary Commission of Cote d’Ivoire were also conducted along with Joint Technical Committee Meetings in Abidjan and Accra.
Regarding the Eastern Corridor (Ghana-Togo), land boundary activities included reaffirmation exercises at Aflao and Akanu, reaffirmation of land boundary pillars in Phase 1 and Phase 2, covering distances along the International Boundary Line. These activities aimed to reinforce and clarify the boundaries between Ghana and Togo.
On the maritime boundary front, Major General Kotia mentioned that the National Boundary Commission of Nigeria invited GhBC to an introductory meeting in Abuja to discuss the proper delimitation of the common maritime boundary between the two countries. He also shared that negotiations with Togo to resolve a longstanding maritime dispute are ongoing, with positive outcomes expected.
The Boundary Commissions of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire held three bilateral meetings to discuss the implementation of the 2017 ITLOS ruling and other cross-border cooperation activities of which a Joint Technical Committee on Maritime and Land boundary issues was established to foster collaboration.
To enhance maritime surveillance, GhBC acquired state-of-the-art Delta Quad Maritime surveillance drones with support from GNPC. These drones will be used in joint inspections with the Ghana Navy along Ghana’s eastern and western maritime borders.
Other notable activities mentioned by Major General Kotia included Ghana’s admission to the African Union Border Programme, advocacy for the ratification of the AU Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention), search and retrieval of legacy documents defining Ghana’s borders with neighboring states, and the joint commemoration of the 12th African Border Day with the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire.
Looking ahead, the Commission plans to continue consultative meetings with neighboring Boundary Commissions, pursue maritime negotiations with Togo, and conduct land boundary and reaffirmation exercises with Togo, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire. Major General Kotia appealed to international partners and agencies to support the Commission in its efforts to assist deprived border communities. The Commission aims to secure funding for projects such as rehabilitating health clinics, improving roads, and providing water supplies to these communities.
Source: MOI (PR Unit)
