The Ghana Boundary Commission has begun a field inspection exercise along the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire frontier as part of efforts to preserve territorial stability and promote peaceful coexistence.

The inspection also seeks to assess progress on the ongoing construction of international boundary pillars, review staked out locations for upcoming works, and engage local stakeholders to build community support for the exercise.

The visit forms the first phase of the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise, an initiative scheduled to conclude on March, 31, 2026. Out of a total of 37 main, intermediate and border crossing pillars planned for the phase, 14 have already been constructed, marking steady progress since work officially commenced in January, 2026. The inspected pillars include major landmarks such as the historic Tano Pillar and the Farafarako International Boundary Pillar.

Mandate

Speaking during the inspection exercise, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Anthony Ntem, said the Commission is constitutionally mandated to manage and protect Ghana’s international land, maritime and airspace boundaries. He said many colonial era boundary markers had either been overgrown by vegetation or destroyed by human activity over the years, making the reaffirmation exercise necessary to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and avert future conflicts. He added that related exercises were taking place across West Africa in coordination with neighbouring states.

Major General Ntem recalled that the pillar construction phase of the joint reaffirmation exercise began in July, 2025. “This was marked by a stone laying ceremony at New Town in the Jomoro Municipality where the Terminus Pillar (Boundary Pillar 55) is located,” he said.

He added that the joint staking out exercise, where locations for the pillars were marked, followed between November and December 2025. “The construction of the pillars itself commenced in January 2026, and the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces are the contractors executing the project,” he added.

Context

A detailed briefing by the Officer in Charge from the 48 Engineers, Lieutenant Clifford Abrokwah, showed that the 37 pillars for stage one include 12 main pillars, 22 intermediate pillars, two border crossing pillars and one terminus pillar. As of now, four main pillars and 10 intermediate pillars have been completed, with construction ongoing along the boundary.

The Officer in Charge said the working party has been reinforced to support the initial team to speed up progress and meet the project deadline, despite the physically demanding nature of the work. He also noted support received from the Forestry Commission in executing the project.

The team also stopped at the Ghana Revenue Authority checkpoint at the Elubo border, where members paid a courtesy call on the Sector Commander, DCOI Joshua Krakue. The commander assured the Commission of the GRA’s support in safeguarding Ghana’s boundaries.