NGO urge Ghana, Burkina Faso to collaborate to curb cross-border crime

The communities along borders between Ghana and Burkina Faso have been advised by a non- governmental organization to effectively forge a closer collaboration to check cross-border crime to enhance economic and social activities at the borders to improve the lives of the people, the Ghana News Agency has reported .

The communities should try to work tirelessly and see how best they could gain from each other's experience such as exchange of technological skills that would engage the youth in employable skills as a way of reducing youth unemployment in those communities, the report quoted the group as saying on Sunday.

Braimah Sanjage, coordinator of Ghana's Movement of Collective Associations (MOCAS), a Navrongo-based civil society organization, gave the advice in Po, a sister community in Burkina Faso.

Sanjage said there was the need for those communities to check such negative activities to transform the situation for unity and development.

"What is important for us as citizens living in border towns is for us to remain friends, brothers and good neighbors to wage a war against smuggling, theft and other serious negative practices and to help to mobilize money for the development of our countries ", he said.

Sanjage thanked his counterparts of Burkina Faso for recognizing the good works of MOCAS and gave the assurance that the Ghanaian community would give its fullest support to any suggestion that those in Po would have for them.

Sumailia Kwara, the Po Youth and Community leader, also called for unity, peace and long lasting understanding between Po and Navrongo. He advised his Ghanaian counterparts not to hesitate to arrest and handover any Burkina Faso's citizen accused of wrongdoing along the border to the authorities in Burkina Faso for necessary actions.