The Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023, was passed by Parliament, marking a major step in improving the nation’s boundary management.
The new law intends to improve Ghana’s capacity to successfully handle border disputes and demarcation.
To oversee Ghana’s land borders, the Ghana Boundary Act, also known as Act 795 of 2010, created the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC).
The goals of the GhBC include managing borders, resolving conflicts, fostering cross-border collaboration, and turning border regions into growth engines.
The bill’s passing represents a major advancement in supporting Ghana’s efforts to uphold border peace and stability while enhancing the quality of life for residents of border regions.
Protocols from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and international law serve as the foundation for the GhBC’s operations.
The GhBC’s operational and administrative apparatus was established in July 2020 when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed the Commission’s first Chief Executive Officer. This is in addition to the Land Boundary Technical Committee, which handles land boundary disputes, defines and demarcates boundaries, and encourages the development of land boundaries.
After the law was passed, Major General Dr. Emmanuel Wekem Kotia, the Commissioner General of the Ghana border Commission, spoke to the Parliamentary Press Corps and praised its potential to provide the Commission more authority to handle border disputes.
“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 stated.
Source: newsthemegh.com