TRIPARTITE MEETING BETWEEN GHANA, BURKINA-FASO AND TOGO

09 A tripartite meeting for the reinforcement of cross-border cooperation has taken place at Tenkodogo, in the central East Province of Burkina- Faso. Participants include delegates from the Upper East Region of Ghana, the Savannah Region of Togo and the Central-East Province of Burkina–Faso. The meeting, which was the first of it kind, was on the theme: “Lets Fight Together against Cross-Border Crimes, Insecurity, Child Trafficking, Diseases, Excision, Corruption and Fraud”. Isaac Asare was there and has sent this report.

CUE IN ………………..
CUE OUT………………
ANCR V/O………………

Report
The meeting was initiated by the three regions as part of the reinforcement of the cross border cooperation, peaceful coexisting between populations and the optimization of development actions in the deconcentrated and decentralized cross border areas of Burkina-Faso, Ghana and Togo was aimed at reinforcing trans-border cohesion, good neighbouring co-existence, free-movement of goods and persons and bond of friendship between the population of the three regions. It is also aimed at deepening cooperation between communities of the three regions through the exchange experiences and ideas in the sectors of environment, security, transport, customs, animal husbandry, trade, health, child trafficking and the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), among other anti-social practices. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, bemoaned the proliferation of small arms and narcotic drugs into the three regions, and called for total collaboration to reduce the menace. He also reiterated the need to combat cross- border crimes and poverty in the three regions. This, he said, could be done by fast tracking the proposed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and opening it up to other regions to benefit from it. Mr. Woyongo appealed to member countries to establish good cordial relations to deepen the relationship between them in order to benefit their people. The Governor of the Central-East of Tenkodogo, Burkina –Faso, Simeon Sawadogo, for his part, pledged his support and preparedness to liaise with other neighbouring countries to tackle some of the challenges confronting the sub-regions and also help deepen the cooperation of the three regions, by sharing experiences with the local authorities on ways to minimizing cross-border crimes to enhance economic ties. He condemned the recent clashes in Bawku and called on the other regions to help restore peace to the area. As part of the tripartite meeting work on a thematic committee was instituted to deliberate on security, social and economic issues affecting three regions. These committees reflected on the main common concerns experienced in the spheres of cross border cooperation among the three regions. After fruitful discussions, a communiqué signed by leaders of each delegation was issued to climax the occasion. A 36-member delegation led by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, earlier paid a courtesy call on the king of Tenkodogo, Naba Saaga Dima of Zoungrantengo, at his palace.
GBC END IA/