The Sissala West District Security Committee (DISEC) in the Upper West Region has held a meeting with some security personnel from Burkina Faso to discuss how to collaborate effectively to fight cross border crime.

Chef Major Dramane Traore led the five member team from Burkina Faso to attend the meeting which was the first of its kind at Gwollu in the Sissala West District.

Mr Moses Dramani Luri, District Chief Executive (DCE) told the Ghana News Agency that the meeting was necessitated by the frequent armed robbery attacks on people in the area by those cross border criminals.

The most recent attacks were on the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, and personnel of the China Water and Electric Corporation. Mr Luri said both Ghana and Burkina Faso had a common interest in ensuring the security of their people, hence, the need for security agencies from both countries to join forces to fight those cross border criminals.

He said security personnel from both countries feared crossing to either countries to fight crime because of the slight variation in their laws adding that the meeting had allayed that fear giving way for effective collaboration.

The DCE said the collaboration was necessary because the criminals were in both countries and had been partnering each other to commit crime.

At the end of the meeting they both agreed to meet on quarterly basis both in Ghana and in Burkina Faso interchangeably, Mr Luri said.

The DCE said it was also agreed to carry out joint patrols in areas prone to such attacks and improve on communication to enhance the flow of information on the activities of the criminals.