The opening of the Ghana-Togo border on a 24-hour basis to facilitate free movement of people and goods would soon be implemented, Kwabeng Mensa-Bonsu, Ghana's Ambassador in Togo, has said.

Addressing a cocktail party the Ghana Embassy organised to mark Ghana's 45th Independence Anniversary at Hotel Sarakawa in Lome on Thursday, he observed relations between Ghana and its neighbours had improved.

''This is the result of the new approach adopted by President John Agyekum Kufuor during his tours of ECOWAS countries in the first year of his administration''. Mr Mensa-Bonsu said: "I am happy to note that our relations with Togo have grown in strength based on genuine friendship, mutual respect and co-operation.

"The suspicions are gone and the two countries can now fight their common enemies of disease, corruption and destabilisation", he added. Mr Mensa-Bonsu said though the hope lighted in Ghanaians at independence 45 years ago still burns, the dream of prosperity was yet to materialise.

He said the nation had sacrificed true democracy on the altar of adventurism with democratically elected governments not allowed to end their term until January 2001. ''The positive drive of the government, which means hard work, change of attitude and adherence to the principles of the Constitution and democracy, is to turn around the country's fortunes for the better.''