Akanu-noepe: Reverend Martin Amenaki, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu North, has commended the ECOWAS Commission for bringing together stakeholders from Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria to discuss issues concerning cross-border movement and trade.
According to Ghana News Agency, Rev. Amenaki made the commendation during an interview at the ECOWAS Commission's stakeholder engagement held at the Akanu-Noepe Joint Border Post between Ghana and Togo. He highlighted the engagement's importance for border communities, as they are directly impacted by policies and regulations governing the movement of persons, goods, and services within the sub-region.
Rev. Amenaki urged the ECOWAS Commission to sustain such engagements and strengthen collaboration with Municipal and District Assemblies, traditional authorities, security agencies, traders, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the ECOWAS free movement protocol. He emphasized that effective implementation would facilitate cross-border trade, deepen regional integration, create economic opportunities, and improve the livelihoods of people living in border communities.
The MCE also called for sustained public education to help residents, traders, and travelers better understand their rights and responsibilities under the ECOWAS free movement regime, as well as to ensure compliance with relevant border requirements. He noted that regular sensitization would help address misconceptions about the protocol, reduce challenges encountered by border users, and promote peaceful relations among communities on both sides of the Ghana-Togo border.
Rev. Amenaki further encouraged stakeholders to work closely with border management agencies to create an enabling environment for legitimate businesses while maintaining necessary security measures. The Akanu-Noepe Joint Border Post is a significant crossing point between Ghana and Togo and forms part of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, a major regional route connecting West African countries and facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services across the sub-region.