Togolese, Ghanaian presidents pledge to facilitate free trade

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - The presidents of Togo and Ghana discussed strengthening cooperation on Friday, regional issues concerning security, the delimitation of the common border and trade relations, according to a statement by the Togolese presidency.

Nana Akufo-Addo arrived Thursday in the Togolese capital of Lome for a working and friendly visit.

He held talks with President Faure Essozima Gnassingbe and several working sessions were extended to official government delegations.

The Togolese presidency said the two leaders reaffirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation in the economic and trade industries.

“They welcomed the acceleration of the operationalization process of the Noepe-Akanu juxtaposed checkpoint and pledged to facilitate the free movement of people and goods between the two countries," according to the statement.

The checkpoint is the border cross point between the two countries that should be operational at the end of the year.

It was officially inaugurated in 2018 but several technical difficulties delayed its opening, including the supply of electricity and water.

The border post is a symbol of the economic integration in West Africa.

Akufo-Ado and Gnassingbe also discussed Togo's membership in the British commonwealth, the rise of terrorism in the sub-region and urged the strengthening of cooperation between the members of the Economic Community of West African States.

Togo, which was previously spared from terrorism, has recently been the target of several attacks that have left one dozen dead.

Both leaders invited the international community to show more solidarity to strengthen the security capacities of west African nations.