Audio By Carbonatix
The Ivorian authorities have decided to open the Ghana-Ivory Coast border, albeit, temporarily to allow only pedestrians to move in and out of that country, Joy News has learnt.
Vehicles have restricted from driving through the border which will be closed at 6pm everyday pending further discussions with the Ghanaian authorities.
The decision was arrived at on Monday after a crunch meeting by the authorities of both countries.
The Ivorian authorities closed the border near Elubo in the Western Region last Friday after attacks on an Ivorian army checkpoint in the border town of Noe left about four people dead.
Earlier, Ivory Coast reopened its air space to Ghana for flight operations between the two countries. Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority Air Commdore (Rtd) Kwame Mamphey confirmed to Joy News.
The closure caused a lot of passengers be stranded in the country, especially at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border at Elubo on Monday morning. A resident at Elubo, Jeffery Aniagyei told Joy News most hotels were fully booked and those who cannot afford were stranded at the border.
Ivoirian authorities closed the border on suspicion that the attacks at Noe were launched by pro-Gbagbo militias exiled in Ghana. But Ghana has denied the allegations made by the Ivoirian Defense Minister and is demanding proof.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Immigration Service has increased border patrols to prevent people from using unauthorized routes. Public Relations Officer of the Service, Francis Palmdeti has told Joy news there is little they can do to help passengers.
In a related development, a security expert thinks the Ivorian authorities misfired in the reason they assigned in closing their border with Ghana.
Executive Director of the West African Network for Peace Building, Emmanuel Bombande told Joy News Ivorian authorities have only been speculating and have so far not even been able to proof that the attackers came from Ghana.
Granted if they were from Ghana, it is subversion, he noted.
“It is in the interest of the security agencies in La Cote d’Ivoire to cooperate and partner with their counterparts across the border in Ghana so that they can deal with these subversion activities that would undermine their internal security.”
He further noted: “But when people like Commander Sampaio give the impression that it is the Ghanaian security that has allowed this to happen, then they are not serving their interest well. Because what they do is that, they put our authorities to be on the defensive and not to cooperate as they should.”
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Republic Bank–JoyNews Habitat Fair opens in Ho today
1 minute -
BoG pledges stability to attract investment, urges stronger Africa–Asia partnerships
5 minutes -
Amin Adam warns treasury bill dependence could expose Ghana to refinancing risks
5 minutes -
Ghana better placed to withstand commodity price shocks – IMF
8 minutes -
GAPTE intensifies efforts to increase bus availability for Aayalolo contra-flow
10 minutes -
Amin Adam warns cedi depreciation could reverse Ghana’s debt relief gains
14 minutes -
Fiscal discipline crucial for pension fund investments – Finance Minister
14 minutes -
BoG Governor rallies IMF to back Africa’s digital sovereigntyÂ
19 minutes -
Amin Adam questions government bond pricing as short-term yields fall below inflation
25 minutes -
Five new telephony cell sites to be activated in October 2026 – Sam George
30 minutes -
Amin Adam raises sovereign-bank nexus concerns as banks hold GH¢190bn in government debt
35 minutes -
Government to increase Free SHS feeding allowance in 2027 Budget – Haruna Iddrisu
40 minutes -
Nadowli-Kaleo NCCE engages women’s groups on rule of law, corruption fight
41 minutes -
Mahama visits factories in Afienya/Tema
46 minutes -
TraffiTech-GH pilot reduces road crash injuries, fatalities
51 minutes