Gov't denies closure

Cote d'Ivoire government has closed its borders with Ghana. It is not immediately clear what might have led to the closure.

Speaking on Radio Ghana's Programme, Behind the News, a Ghanaian businessman, Amoro Mprusi told Agartha Asamoah that the Ivorian government is not respecting the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods and services. He said the closure is hampering trans-border trade.

He however debunked reports of demonstrations at the border.

“Reaching the border, I came across this blockade of ECOWAS tracks including the Ivoirian tracks that have carried goods from Togo, Benin, etc. who have blocked the Ivorian side of the border…and the drivers have all left their tracks and gone to town,” Amoro Mprusi told Radio Ghana.

He said the Ivorian authorities have for the past week refused entry of vehicles from other countries in the sub-region including Ghana, but their Ghanaian counter-parts are operating like always.

He recounts a similar incident happened months ago, which led to goods being locked at the borders for months.

Meanwhile, Dr. Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications denied the closure of the border in an interview with Radio Ghana.