Ouagadougou: Major General Paul Seidu Tanye Kulono, Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and his delegation have paid a courtesy call on Ghana's Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Kenneth Akibate. The visit occurred when the delegation participated in the 22nd edition of Burkina Faso's National Culture Week.
According to Ghana News Agency, Burkina Faso remains Ghana's largest transit trade partner, relying on Ghana's ports as the preferred gateway for imports and exports. During the meeting, the Director-General briefed Ambassador Akibate on GPHA's annual trade mission to Burkina Faso, highlighting concerns raised by traders during last year's engagement about the use of Ghana's ports and the transit corridor.
Major General Kulono explained that following the mission, GPHA collaborated with key institutions, including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Police Service, to address operational challenges faced by traders. He indicated that this year's trade mission is expected in the third quarter, emphasizing GPHA's commitment to engaging the embassy and reassuring traders of efforts to improve port efficiency and trade facilitation.
Ambassador Akibate expressed satisfaction with the hospitality extended to Ghanaians in Burkina Faso, attributing the warm relations to strong diplomatic ties between the two nations. He recalled President John Dramani Mahama's invitation to President Traor© for his inauguration, which strengthened bilateral relations further.
The ambassador praised the GPHA delegation for participating in cultural celebrations and addressing transit-related concerns with the Ghanaian business community. He noted that GPHA's engagement in Burkina Faso reinforces Ghana's position as a reliable transit hub in the sub-region.
The delegation met members of the Ghanaian community in Bobo-Dioulasso, where traders voiced concerns about frequent checkpoints, delays, and harassment along the transit corridor. Major General Kulono acknowledged similar issues raised by Burkinab¨ traders and highlighted progress made through stakeholder engagement, intergovernmental collaboration, and governmental commitment, including the removal of VAT on goods in transit.
He assured traders of ongoing efforts to enhance trade facilitation and address operational bottlenecks. Discussions with the Inspector-General of Police were held to ensure the safety and smooth movement of trucks along the corridor.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured GPHA's newly refurbished office in Ouagadougou, where they were welcomed by GPHA representative Mr. Pius Owusu. After inspecting the facility, Major General Tanye Kulono encouraged staff to maintain excellence and position GPHA as the preferred gateway for transit trade in the sub-region.
The delegation included GPHA management team members and Mr. Dan Abdul Latif, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, representing the GPHA Governing Board.