Security Agencies of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have been urged to collaborate and share intelligence information to combat cross-border crimes between the two countries.

Mr. Fadi Ouattara, Eastern Regional Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, made the call when he led a 40-member delegation to Essam-Debiso in the Bia West District, to meet with the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Ebenezer Kwadwo Teye Addo.

The visit, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, especially between the Western and Eastern Regions of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, since they share a common border.

Mr. Ouattara, who is the le Prefet of D’Abengourou, said some criminals commit crimes in Cote d’Ivoire and run across the border to Ghana when pursued by the Ivorian security agencies and vice versa, hence the need for the two countries’ security agencies to collaborate to combat crime along the border.

He observed that some unscrupulous people smuggle cocoa to either country, saying when the price of the commodity in Cote d’Ivoire goes down, some Ivorians smuggle cocoa to Ghana, and vice versa.

Mr. Ouattara indicated that illegal lumber loggers also smuggle timber logs to either country, and suggested that the Forestry Authorities of both countries should license lumber loggers, in order to monitor and track down lumber smuggling so as to boost the economies of both countries.

The Ivorian Minister expressed worry about car theft in the Eastern Region of Cote d’Ivoire in recent times, and said the perpetrators brought them to Ghana.

He, therefore, appealed to the security agencies in Ghana to help apprehend them.

Mr. Ouattara said the friendship between the two countries dates back to the independence struggle of both countries, and that Ghana’s First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his Ivorian counterpart, Felix Houphouet-Boigney, had a cordial relationship, and added that the friendship should be sustained.

Mr. Teye Addo, Western Regional Minister, said the country was committed to combating cross-border crime, and pledged his outfit’s dedication to flush out robbery and other nefarious activities along the borders of both countries.

He suggested that both countries should make the study of French and English languages attractive, to promote communication between peoples of the two countries, in order to boost economic activities as well.

The minister was optimistic that the meeting would strengthen the existing relations between Ghana and Cote d. Ivoire, and that would inure to the benefit of the two countries, saying it would build solidarity, mutual trust and understanding.

“Though free entry and exit must exist between the borders of the two countries, but that must be done within legal limits, in order not to make the borders too porous for criminals to exploit,” he opined.

The district chief executive of the area, Mr Kobina Tweneboah-Koduah, gave the assurance that the district would work closely with its Ivorian neighbours to ensure mutual benefits.

The delegation of the two countries exchanged gifts after the meeting.