President Akufo-Addo with President Roch Marc Christian Kabore
President Akufo-Addo held a meeting with his Burkina Faso counterpart, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday in an effort to find a lasting solution to the perennial flooding caused by the spillage of water from the Bagre Dam.
The Bagre Dam is a multipurpose dam on the White Volta located near Bagré village in Burkina Faso.
Increase in the water levels in the dam has often led to a spillage which usually leads to the destruction of homes and farmlands in several communities in the Upper East Region, as well as west and northern parts of the Volta Region in Ghana.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, President Akufo-Addo said they are trying to work out a lasting solution to the Bagre Dam crisis.
He pointed out that “though the problem should have been dealt with long ago, there is always a time for dealing with matters.”
They discussed plans to organize the next meeting for the Joint Commission for Cooperation since it’s the turn of Ghana to host it.
Ghana is also responsible for convening a meeting of the Volta Basin Authority, which has six regional members.
The two presidents also discussed the extension of electricity from Ghana to Burkina Faso and transshipment of goods and services between the two countries to strengthen existing cordial relations between the two countries.
Trade and the menace of Fulani herdsmen were also discussed.
Ghana and Burkina Faso also agreed that ministers in the two countries would hold quarterly meetings to address issues confronting them.
President Akufo-Addo later presented his guest with a state honour, Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, Honorary Division.
On his part, Marc Kabore thanked President Akufo-Addo and the government and people of Ghana for the honour done him.
He reiterated the commitment of his government to upholding the decisions taken at the meeting.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent