ECOWAS enhances border efficiency through a capacity-building workshop for Ghana–Togo officials, strengthening coordination and trade facilitation.

The ECOWAS Commission, supported by TradeMark Africa, held a two-day capacity-building workshop for border officials at the Akanu Noepe Joint Border Post between Ghana and Togo, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and improve border efficiency.

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The ECOWAS border efficiency training focused on operational coordination and the implementation of harmonised procedures under the bilateral commitments of both states.

The workshop brought together forty-five participants, who shared practical experiences and offered feedback to the ECOWAS Commission on sustaining the operation of the Joint Border Post.

Key recommendations included the creation of a long-term funding structure for cross-border operations, stronger engagement with national authorities to resolve operational challenges, and immediate ECOWAS support in retooling and equipping the facility.

Sessions covered the JBP concept, the legal and institutional framework guiding its operations, the mandate of the Joint Border Management Committee, digital tools for trade facilitation, and environmentally responsible border management.

According to the organisers, the training is part of a broader effort to reinforce structured coordination mechanisms at one of the region’s most strategic border crossings.

The Akanu Noepe Joint Border Post forms a vital section of the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor and is a powerful link for intermodal logistics networks extending to the Sahelian hinterlands.

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Officials noted that improved capacity at the border post will strengthen trade flows and enhance transport connectivity across West Africa.