By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Dec 19, GNA – Ghana’s Parliament has taken a significant step towards strengthening the country’s boundary management, by passing the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023.
The new law aims to enhance Ghana’s ability to address boundary demarcation and disputes effectively.
The Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) was established by the Ghana Boundary Act, or Act 795 of 2010, to manage Ghana’s land boundaries.
The GhBC’s objectives include boundary management, dispute resolution, cross-border cooperation, and transforming border areas into catalysts for growth.
The passage of the bill marks a significant step forward in bolstering Ghana’s efforts to maintain peace and stability along its borders while improving the lives of those in border areas.
The GhBC’s work is guided by international law, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols.
While the GhBC has a Land Boundary Technical Committee that handles land boundary disputes, defines and demarcates boundaries, and promotes the development of land boundaries, its operational and administrative machinery was established in July 2020, when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed the Commission’s first Chief Executive Officer.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps after the passage, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Dr. Emmanuel Wekem Kotia, welcomed the bill’s passage, emphasizing its potential to empower the Commission to manage boundary issues with greater authority.
“The new law aligns the Commission’s mandate with international best practices, enabling it to implement social interventions aimed at easing challenges faced by residents in deprived border communities
“The passage of this bill strengthens our mandate, and I believe Ghana will be the ultimate winner as we work toward resolving boundary-related issues,” he said.
GNA