Noe (Cote D'Ivoire), Oct. 28, GNA- Commander Awede Irenee-Hugues, in charge of the Noe border in Cote D'Ivoire has expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Ghana for deploying troops to the Elubo border to assist in solving the Ivorian crisis. He said the act by Ghana had demonstrated to Ivorians that rebels or mercenaries who plan to attack Cote D'Ivoire could not use Ghana as a base.

Commander Irenee-Hugues said this on Tuesday, when Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman paid a courtesy call on him at the Noe border as part of his two-day working visit to the Western Region.

He said the mediation role played by Ghana had further improved the existing relationship between the two countries and boosted trade among its people.

Commander Irenee-Hugues appealed to the Ghanaian authorities to work closely with the Ivorians and ensure that the unity and brotherliness that exists between both countries are deepened for their mutual benefit.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman, responding, called on the Ivorian border managers, to check cross-border crime and control the incidence of robbery between the two borders.

He urged the Ivorian government and all stakeholders to let the peace that was brokered to prevail, to facilitate sub-regional peace, development, exchange of goods and services and unity.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman appealed to the Ivorian officials to treat Ghanaian traders humanely and respect the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol of free movement of goods and people. He, however, cautioned that people who try to destabilise either Ghana or Cote D'Ivoire should be arrested and prosecuted.

"Don't give them the chance to operate since they would only ask the citizenry to kill one another and destabilise the peace in the sub-region.