Ghana and Ivory Coast working closely to reopen border

ACCRA – Ghana is working closely with neighbouring Ivory Coast to resolve security issues that forced the Ivorian government to shut their shared border, the country’s deputy interior minister said Saturday.
‘This collaboration is ongoing at the highest levels of government,’ Kobby Acheampong told AFP.

‘We view this as a serious situation. We do not believe it is acceptable for any violence to be perpetrated against the people of Ivory Coast,’ the Ghanaian minister added.
Ivory Coast announced the closure of the nearly 700-kilometre (450-mile) border on Friday after armed men attacked a checkpoint at the Noe border crossing.
Five assailants were killed in the shootout, another five were arrested, while the rest fled into Ghana, Ivorian officials said.
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s government has accused supporters of former president Laurent Gbagbo of backing a series of attacks on the army and police with help from exiles in Ghana.
Ghanaian police said Tuesday they had arrested three men in possession of AK-47 rifles on suspicion that they were plotting to overthrow Ouattara’s government.
Thousands of Gbagbo loyalists fled to Ghana after the fall of his regime following a post-election conflict that claimed some 3,000 lives between December 2010 and April 2011.
Last month, Ghanaian police arrested Justin Kone Katinan, Gbagbo’s spokesman who is wanted in Ivory Coast for alleged economic crimes as budget minister during the post-election crisis.
Prosecutors in Accra are seeking to extradite Katinan back to Ivory Coast. – Nampa-AFP

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.