Ghana And Togo Sign Joint Security Cooperation Agenda

Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, National Security Co-ordinator

Ghana-Togo relations got a big boost when the joint security chiefs of the two neighbouring countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will guide their co-operation on security issues, especially in the fight against criminal activities along their common borders.

The Togoles Minister of Security and Civil Protection , Colonel Mohammed Atcha Titikipina, signed the MOU on behalf of Togo while the National Security Co-ordinator, Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, appended for Ghana .

According to the memorandum of understanding the security forces of Ghana and Togo would adopt joint measures and strategies to combat various cross-border crimes such as drug and illegal arms trafficking.

The document stressed joint security operations against child and human trafficking as well as money laundering.

The event climaxed a three-day working visit to Togo by a high-powered Ghanaian security delegation.

Ghana's National Security Co-ordinator, Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, who led the Ghanaian delegation assured the Togolese population that 'relations between Ghana and Togo had entered a new positive era where nothing will be hidden from each other.

Colonel Gbevlo-Lartey said the signing of the joint security co-operation would permit the exchange of vital information between the security operatives of both countries in order to formulate a common strategy for the busting of crime.

He explained that with the newly adopted memorandum, anybody who behaved criminally in Ghana could not seek a safe haven in Togo and vice versa.

The Ghanaian Security Co-ordinator illustrated this point with the example of a lady suspect who was recently arrested on her way to Togo from Ghana at the Aflao border with bags of maize and a travelling bag full of arms and ammunition.

He said such trans-border crimes must be checked and not condoned.

Gbevlo-Lartey said the new spirit of co-operation concretised the common vision and aims of President John Evans Atta-Mills of Ghana and President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo to bring about a new era of bilateral co-operation between 'our two countries'.

''With the Togolese security minister, we work day and night, sometimes on daily telephone calls to find solutions to our security problems for our peoples welfare'', Colonel Gbevlo-Lartey revealed.

He assured President Faure Gnassingbe during a courtesy call that ''we want to reassure our peoples that Ghana and Togo are now inextricably bound together, and that nothing can be hidden from each other in this relationship''.

Later the two security delegations broke into a closed door working session to identify common areas of bilateral security co-operation.

The Togolese Security Minister later drove the Ghanaian security delegation to ascertain the situation which existed along some unapproved routes used by armed robbers and drug traffickers across the common land borders of the two countries.

Colonel Titkipina said ''our task is to give concrete support to the vision of our Heads of State to build bilateral co-operation on the solid foundation of peace and security.

For, without peace and security, there can be no development''. ''The mutual suspicions which existed in the relation between Ghana and Togo in the past are now a thing of the past'', Colonel Titkipina declared.

Last week, a high powered Ghanaian military delegation led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Peter Blay, was in Lome to explore ways and means the armed forces of the two countries could co-operate.

In August last year, the Heads of State of Ghana and Togo renewed their commitment to open a new era in Ghana and Togo bilateral co-operation in the areas of trade, commerce, energy, water resources and security along their borders.

The commitment was renewed during a two-day visit to Ghana last August by President Faure Gnassingbe.

Story: Ebow Godwin