Ghana Boundary Commission

GhBC News

GhBC News:_

Ghana Boundary Commission facilitates a validation workshop on Pivotal Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Cooperation between Ghana and Burkina Faso

September 27, 2024

In a significant move to enhance regional cooperation, the Ghana Boundary Commission facilitated a validation workshop focused on a pivotal Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Cooperation

Students from the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management paid a study visit to the Ghana Boundary Commission

September 25, 2024

Students from the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management paid a study visit to the Ghana Boundary Commission on Monday, 9 September 2024. The

Ghana Boundary Commission conducts field research in three communities in the Upper West Region

September 25, 2024

Researchers from the Ghana Boundary Commission undertook a mission to Dorimon in the Upper West Region of Ghana as part of a field research under

Institutional Capacity Building Of GhBC

To build the institutional capacity of GhBC as an agile and effective national security organisation responsible for securing Ghana's international land and maritime boundaries

Securing Ghana's Lands And Maritime Boundaries

To demarcate, delimit, secure, maintain and manage Ghana's sovereign land and maritime boundaries in collaboration with neighbouring countries and demarcate and manage internal land boundaries

Boundary Dispute Resolutions

To lead Government's processes for the settlement and resolution of outstanding and emerging boundary disputes and issues of boundary security in accordance with international law and good neighbourliness

Our Background

The Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) was established by Act 795 of Parliament in 2010 as part of interventions to address the increasingly complex nature of Ghana’s international boundary.

Vision

The vision of the Ghana Boundary Commission is to ensure that Ghana’s land, maritime, and air boundaries are effectively secured and managed within the framework of international law, peace and security, and the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols of African and regional integration.

Mission

The vison of GhBC is to demarcate, delimit and manage Ghana’s international and internal boundaries, including settling boundary disputes through the implementation of National legislation, and Regional and International Conventions on boundary management and cross-boundary cooperation in Africa. The overall goal of GhBC is to protect and secure the territorial interest of Ghana as a trusted partner with Ghana’s neighboring States, ensuring that international boundaries with Ghana are protected and respected based on international best practices in demarcating and delimiting boundaries; and also ensure that all internal local boundary disputes are resolved amicably.

Maritime Boundary

Ghana shares maritime boundaries with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. In 2021, the Commission’s focus in terms of maritime boundary operations centred on negotiations with the Republic of Togo on a long-standing maritime dispute between the two countries

Land Boundary

The GhBC in 2021 undertook numerous land boundary activities including physical land boundary pillar inventory, mapping surveys of international boundaries, negotiations, and bilateral meetings with neighbouring countries on common land boundaries

.

Ghana’s total land boundary distance is approximately 2209km; with a breakdown, as follows: Ghana- Togo boundary – 789km, Ghana- Burkina Faso boundary – 556km, and Ghana- Cote d’Ivoire boundary – 661 km.

GhBC Governing Body

The Commission has a 15-member inter-ministerial Governing Body, which provides strategic and policy direction to the Commission

Key Statistics From 2021

105.4km

International Land Boundary Covered

75

Boundary Pillars Flagged And Surveyed

30.3km

of Orthophoto Mapping Along Boundaries

GhBC Directorate/Units

Office Of The Commissioner General

The Ghana Boundary Commission is headed by a Commissioner General. The Office of the Commissioner General oversees the overall management and performance of the Commission by providing strategic leadership and managerial direction towards the realisation of the Commission’s mandate. The Policy, Plans and Programmes (PPP) Department, the Legal Unit, and the Internal Audit Unit are situated within the Office of the Commissioner General.

Boundary Operations Department

The Boundary Operations Department is headed by a Director of the rank of Colonel who on behalf of the Commission liaises with relevant stakeholders including state security agencies, local and traditional authorities to ensure the security of Ghana’s boundaries to safeguard the territorial sovereignty of the state. The Boundary Operations Department is responsible for undertaking programmes, projects and activities towards demarcating/delimiting the international land, maritime and air boundaries of Ghana.

Boundary Operations Department

The Boundary Operations Department is responsible for undertaking/implementing programmes, projects and activities in coordination with government agencies towards demarcating the land boundaries of Ghana. The Boundary Operations department is responsible for conducting regular surveillance of Ghana’s boundary pillars and patrol routes, using intelligence from Ghana Immigration service patrol teams, and other security services in the local community level.

Survey And Delimitation Department

The Survey and Delimitation Department is responsible for technical and operational work of land boundary surveying and mapping, maritime boundary delimitation and boundary data activities of the Commission. The Survey and Delimitation department handle the task of developing a database and inventory for all boundary pillars and coordinates, and ensuring proper documentation of Ghana’s borderlines in accordance with international law.

Research Department

The Research Department is responsible for all research activities/products including research analysis, policy briefs and reports, threat assessments, and field evidence-based reports that advice and inform the Commission’s choices. The Research department also collaborates with other research institutions to produce relevant research products and host stakeholder engagements on research findings and analysis for better governance and government’s decision making on boundary related issues.

Administration Department

The Administration department provides the support services to the Commission and for the effective performance of the other departments. Under the leadership of its director, the Administration department is responsible for the human resource management, knowledge management, procurement, external and internal relations, performance management and proper functioning of the Commission’s systems and personnel.

Finance Unit

The Finance Section is responsible for keeping the accounts and financial transactions and financial management system of the Commission according to acceptable national standards.

IT Unit

The IT Unit is charged with establishing, monitoring and maintaining information technology systems and services in the Commission and these includes establishing a secured network, efficient running of systems and that computer systems are up-to-date with the latest software.