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Ghana and Burkina Faso have formally signed seven major bilateral agreements in what officials describe as a sweeping diplomatic reset aimed at stabilizing one of West Africa’s most strategic corridors.
The agreements were finalized at the conclusion of a session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC), a key diplomatic mechanism that had been dormant for six years before its recent reactivation.
The revival follows high-level engagements in early 2023 between President John Mahama and President Ibrahim Traoré, discussions credited with setting the tone for renewed bilateral cooperation between the two neighbors.
A New Security and Humanitarian Architecture
Security concerns in the Sahel region were central to the discussions. Ahead of the summit, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa visited survivors of a February 14 terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, who were receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. The attack claimed several civilian lives, including Ghanaian tomato traders.
Both governments jointly condemned recent terrorist attacks across the sub-region and expressed condolences to affected families. They agreed to design and adopt a new security framework aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism.
Beyond security cooperation, the talks addressed humanitarian concerns, particularly the recurring spillage of the Bagré Dam, which has historically triggered devastating floods downstream in northern Ghana. A new disaster management partnership was established to coordinate early warning systems and harmonized emergency response protocols.
Seven Pillars of Cooperation
The finalized agreements include:
Mutual Recognition of National Driver’s Licenses, expected to ease transit along the Tema–Ouagadougou corridor.
Transport and Road Transit Agreement, reducing regulatory inconsistencies.
Framework on Cross-Border Cooperation, strengthening frontier governance.
Periodic Consultation Mechanism for Border Authorities, ensuring sustained local dialogue.
Joint Commission to Reaffirm the International Boundary, formally securing territorial integrity.
Disaster Prevention and Humanitarian Management Cooperation, institutionalizing coordinated emergency response.
Agreement to Combat Narcotics Trafficking, declaring both nations a “no-drug zone” to safeguard youth and regional stability.
High-level engagements during the visit included meetings with Burkinabè Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and Foreign Affairs Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré.
Minister Ablakwa emphasized that the agreements “are not going to be decorative pieces,” pledging swift operationalization.
Analysts say the reset could significantly strengthen trade flows, border governance, and collective security at a time of heightened volatility across West Africa.
Writer’s Name: Andre Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah
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Source:
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