The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Major General Paul Seidu Tanye Kulono, has led a delegation of the Authority as part of Ghana’s participation in the 22nd edition of Burkina Faso’s National Culture Week.
Burkina Faso remains Ghana’s largest transit trade partner, with a long standing commercial relationship supported by the use of Ghana’s ports as the preferred gateway for Burkinabè imports and exports.
The cultural festival, held in Bobo Dioulasso, was officially opened by Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who described the event as “an unconditional act of cultural sovereignty,” underscoring its importance to national identity and unity.
On the sidelines of the event, Major General Tanye Kulono and his delegation paid a courtesy call on Ghana’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, H.E. Kenneth Akibate, at his residence in Ouagadougou.
The Director General briefed the Ambassador on GPHA’s annual trade mission to Burkina Faso, noting that during last year’s engagement, traders raised a number of concerns regarding the use of Ghana’s ports and the corridor. He explained that upon the team’s return, GPHA collaborated with key agencies, including Customs and the Ghana Police Service, to address some of the issues raised and implement practical solutions.
He further indicated that this year’s trade mission is likely to take place in the third quarter, adding that GPHA will liaise with the Embassy to continue to assure the trading community and the people of Burkina Faso of Ghana’s commitment to supporting their business activities by making the country’s ports more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly.
On his part, Ambassador Akibate noted that although he had only been in office for less than a year , he was deeply impressed by the goodwill, respect and hospitality extended to Ghanaians living in Burkina Faso.
He attributed this positive reception to the strong and cordial relations between the governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso. He recalled President John Dramani Mahama’s invitation to President Ibrahim Traoré to attend his presidential inauguration, describing the gesture as a significant step that further consolidated diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Ambassador also commended the GPHA delegation for participating in the cultural celebrations and for engaging the Ghanaian business community to address challenges related to the movement of goods along the transit corridor. He emphasized that the presence of GPHA in Burkina Faso continues to boost trader confidence and reinforces Ghana’s position as a reliable transit hub.
Major General Tanye Kulono, together with the Ambassador, later met with members of the Ghanaian community in Bobo Dioulasso to listen to their concerns. Traders raised issues relating to frequent checkpoints, delays and harassment during the transportation of goods.
Responding to the concerns, the Director General explained that similar complaints had also been raised by Burkinabè traders using the Ghanaian corridor. He noted that through sustained stakeholder engagement, intergovernmental collaboration and firm government commitment to maintaining Ghana’s ports as the preferred transit option, significant progress had been made. These efforts, he indicated, have led to notable achievements, including the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods in transit.
He assured the traders of continued engagement to further address operational challenges and improve trade facilitation along the corridor.
He informed them that eight before the visit, he had a discussion with the IGP who briefed him him on the measures that had been put place to ensure safety and unhindered movement of trucks along the corridor.
As part of the visit, the delegation also toured the refurbished GPHA office in Ouagadougou, where they were received by the GPHA Representative to Burkina Faso, Pius Owusu.
The DG, after inspecting the newly refurbished facility uerged staff to remain committed to excellence and to continue positioning GPHA as the preferred gateway for transit trade in the sub region.
The delegation was made up of the Director General and some of members of his management team and a representative from the GPHA Governing Board, in the person of Hon Dan Abdul Latif, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central
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