�Ghana-Togo Border Must Be Opened 24 Hours�

Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo, Mr Johnny M. Kwadjo, has stressed the need for Ghana and Togo to consider opening their common border for 24 hours daily, since the current time of closure, which is 10 p.m., does not help either country.

He observed that Togo was the closest country to Ghana and various business activities took place at their common border which required very flexible closing times.

Even more, he said, there was still a large market that could be explored by both countries, adding that Ghana-made products could still find market in Togo to help Ghana expand its business horizon, and vice versa.

The Ambassador was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in his office in Lome during the recent presidential election in Togo.

“Soon after the Togolese election, the two countries should take a very close look at trading activities between them and consider opening the border 24 hours daily,” he stated, adding that the current closing time of 10 p.m. was very anachronistic. 

He observed that since last year, Togo had replaced Nigeria as the destination for Ghanaian exports, adding that currently electrical products from Ghana were very much patronised in Togo over locally produced ones.

Mr Kwadjo was confident that the market situation had favoured Ghana because of the quality of its products and said other products from Ghana could also become the mainstay in Togo.

He said there was the urgent need for a liberalised atmosphere that would attract and encourage more business between Ghana and Togo.

Currently, he said, there were bigger economic prospects that could be taken advantage of by Ghana, saying the proximity between Ghana and Togo could be an added advantage.  

Touching on the Togolese elections, the Ambassador said the deepening of the democratic process in Togo would help expand the scope of Ghana’s business there or cross-border trading activities.     

He said he was happy that the Ghanaian media, and for that matter the Daily Graphic, were covering the elections, saying as neighbours, the Togolese listened to or paid much attention to the Ghanaian media.

“Your coverage of the Togo elections will, therefore, not only help in presenting a better insight of issues but also go a long way in establishing a good relationship,” he said.

The Comptroller of Immigration, Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Aflao, Mr Julius Gborglah,  said he was happy to note that there were no adverse findings during the joint border patrols, which were conducted in areas including the unapproved routes, throughout the election period.

He said business activities moved the borders, which are also used by Beninois, Nigerians and Nigeriens, saying once they were closed, business activities were affected.

Coincidentally, Benin had her parliamentary election the day after Togo had her presidential