Ghana is hosting a 2-day high-level Sub-Regional Consultation, which has brought together National Boundary Commissions and Directorates from Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali. The gathering marks a decisive step toward strengthening coordinated management of the common International Boundaries between the participating countries.
Speaking at the opening today, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Guest of Honour, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the meeting as a milestone in advancing peaceful boundary governance and deepening regional integration.
The Minister highlighted that the consultation builds on individual national efforts of the Boundary Commissions to develop priorities for the governance of the international boundaries. He further noted that the outcomes of the national workshops reinforced the urgent need for coordinated institutional action, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and data-driven planning to effectively manage the sub-region’s increasingly complex boundary dynamics.
With boundaries serving as hubs of trade, cultural exchange, and livelihoods, the Minister also drew attention to their high susceptibility to threats such as irregular migration, smuggling, transhumance-related conflicts, and environmental degradation. He concluded by advocating for collective and forward-looking responses anchored in trust and cooperation in managing the threats.
The Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Anthony Ntem, in his opening remarks, revealed that each country had undertaken internal development and review of their respective priorities in relation to the management of the international boundaries. He added that the Ghana Boundary Commission did the same, guided by its 10-year Strategic Plan and in collaboration with its national stakeholders.
Major General Ntem indicated that the Commission’s meeting with national stakeholders revealed a need for stronger coordination, sustained dialogue and practical cooperation between various actors in the management of Ghana’s International Boundaries. He admonished participants to engage in the spirit of partnership, noting that the meeting is an opportunity for the countries to build consensus around practical interventions that will positively impact border communities across the boundaries.
In attendance also was the Chief of Missions of IOM, Mrs Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, who made known that IOM’s support to the project is based on findings from Joint Baseline Assessments conducted across participating Member States. She mentioned that the assessments clearly highlighted existing gaps in cross-border coordination and the need to strengthen governance frameworks and institutional coordination. Also present were representatives of Boundary Commissions and Directorates from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali.
The Sub-Regional Consultation is being organised under the auspices of the International Organisation for Migration’s Integrated Border Stability Mechanisms, a multilateral platform established to support states in addressing cross-border-related challenges in a coordinated, evidence-based and complementary manner
