Some members of Parliamentary Network Africa have visited the Joint Ghana-Togo Border Post at Akanu, near Dzodze, in the Volta Region to assess the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiatives on the free movement of persons across the frontier between the two countries.
It was also aimed at enabling the four-member team to push for the ratification of the AU protocol on the free movement of persons, including engagement with the AfCFTA Secretariat on the subject.
The team included the Member of Parliament for Chadiza, Eastern Province of Zambia, Jonathan Daka; MP for Khomas in Namibia, Rodney Cloete; Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, Marina da Trinidade, and an MP from Gabon, Jeffrey Onganga.
Collaboration
The Customs Base Commander of the border post, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Thelma Enyonam Dotse, said the collaboration between customs personnel of the two countries had helped to expedite the movement of people and trucks with goods across them remarkably, a clear departure from the old manual procedures, which were time-consuming.
“Both sides prepare the necessary documents which they share with each other, making the work easier for traders, and also ensuring there is no duplication of arrival and departure formalities,” she said.
For instance, Ms Dotse said, clearing goods at the border, which took some days in the past, now took between four and five hours.
Significance
The Head of Togo Douanes (Customs), Captain Agniba Essorezim, said cross-border procedures at the joint post at Akanu were now more swift and time-saving, bringing relief to travellers.
“This is because we are connected in the discharge of our duties,” he said.
Captain Essorezim said on average, 30 trucks cross the joint border daily under the automated systems.
He also said a person could cross the border freely with a valid ECOWAS identity card.
Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and the Akanu Joint Border Post Sector Commander, DCOI Kenneth Gilbert Arhinful, said there was still a need for more gadgets at the post to facilitate faster movement of people across the frontier.
Commendation
The Zambian member of the delegation, Mr Daka, commended Ghana and Togo for the well-organised and coordinated travelling procedures at the post, saying that it would enhance regional integration.
Parliamentary Network Africa is a civil society organisation with a vision of promoting open parliaments across Africa.
It also has a mission of working with parliamentary institutions and citizens, including other civil society organisations and the media, to promote transparency, accountability, civic participation, inclusion, and responsiveness in the works of African Parliaments.
