The Joint Committee of Experts on the Ghana-Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project met in Ouagadougou on 15^th to 16^the January, 2017 to sign the final Memorandum of Understanding that will lead to discussions, planning and implementation of the rail project.

The project which will link the two neighboring countries with rail line will facilitate trade and development. The meeting was under the patronage of the Minister for Railways Development Hon. Joe Ghartey and the Minister for Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety of Burkina Faso, Mr. Soulymane Soulama.

Addressing members of the Committee at a technical meeting, Minister for Railways Development Hon. Joe Ghartey commended the team for their hard work. He thanked the Presidents of the two countries for reviving the Ghana-Burkina Faso Railway Interconnectivity Project.  He described the project as an important factor which will accelerate economic growth for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

The Minister for Transport, Urban Mobility and Rad Safety of Burkina Faso, Mr. Soulymane Soulama also applauded members of the committee for their high level of commitment. He reminded the technical team of the time limitations, stressing that the rail lines must get to Burkina Faso by the end of 2020. He said the project when completed will boost sub-regional integration and also strengthen people-to-people relationships between the two countries.

The two Ministers later signed the Memorandum of Understanding. A Communiqué was also reviewed, adopted by the technical committee and signed by the two Ministers.

The technical meeting was jointly chaired by the Deputy Minister for Railways Development, Hon. Andy Appiah-Kubi and the Secretary-General for the Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety, Burkina Faso, Mr. Issaka Sigue.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during a visit to President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso in May 2017, mentioned that one of the highlights of his presidency is to work with Burkina Faso to link the two border countries by rail in order to facilitate socio-economic development.

The Joint Committee of Experts will develop plans and strategies to achieve the objectives of the railway interconnectivity project. The committee will continue to meet until the end of the project.