Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have jointly commissioned 37 newly constructed International Boundary Pillars (IBPs) to reaffirm and strengthen their land boundary. The commissioning ceremonies were held at New Town in Ghana and Diby in Côte d’Ivoire, marking the successful completion of Phase One of the Joint Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire Land Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise. This exercise was supervised by the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC) and covered a distance of 150 kilometres.
The 37 newly constructed pillars were fully funded by the German development agency, GIZ, and the African Union Border Programme (AUBP). The pillars comprise one Terminus Pillar, 12 Main Pillars, 20 Intermediate Pillars, and four Border Crossing Pillars. The Terminus Pillar, commissioned at New Town, marks the end of the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire International Land Boundary and the beginning of the International Maritime Boundary between the two countries.
The second ceremony at Diby saw the commissioning of IBP48, which serves as both a Main Pillar and a Border Crossing Pillar. The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, Major General Anthony Ntem, said the newly constructed pillars reinforce the African Union’s vision of a borderless Africa. He explained that clearly defined boundaries should serve as points of connection rather than division between neighbouring countries.
Major General Ntem urged all stakeholders to regard the newly constructed pillars as markers of certainty, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence. He added that clarity over territorial jurisdiction provides a foundation for cooperation, from communities living along the boundary to the highest levels of government. According to him, the strength of a united and integrated Africa depends on certainty, trust, and cooperation among sovereign states.
The Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr Diakalidia Konate, said the reaffirmation exercise aims to make the international boundary line between the two countries more visible. He expressed appreciation to members of the Joint Land Boundary Technical and Sub-Technical Committees for their work during the first phase of the exercise and encouraged them to maintain their commitment in the next phase.
The German Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Matthias Veltin, reaffirmed the German government’s commitment to initiatives promoting African integration and cooperation. He explained that Germany’s partnership with the African Union Border Programme, through GIZ, supports African countries in demarcating, reaffirming, and managing their common boundaries. Mr Veltin stressed that African boundaries should not serve to separate people but should instead become points of union, cooperation, and collaboration.
Phase Two of the reaffirmation exercise is expected to commence later this year, covering approximately 400 kilometres and supervised by the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire. The project aims to further strengthen the clarity and visibility of the international boundary, supporting peaceful coexistence, legitimate cross-border movement, trade, and cooperation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Key points
- The commissioning of the 37 new boundary pillars marks a significant milestone in the efforts to reaffirm and strengthen the land boundary between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
- The project is part of broader continental efforts to improve the management of Africa’s borders and support regional integration.
- Phase Two of the exercise is expected to cover approximately 400 kilometres and will be supervised by the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire.
