The Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Affo Toffey, has expressed the believe that the reopening of the Elubo-Ivorian Border would bring back the social life that residents along the two borders lost due to the closure.
The MP said people around the border, most particularly in Elubo, had suffered in terms of businesses collapsing and loss of social life in the last two years the border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At midnight on Thursday, February 16, 2023, the Ivorian authorities performed an opening ceremony to welcome Ghanaians and Ivorians to and from Ghana and Ivory Coast to signify the official opening of the two borders.
Commenting on the development, the Jomoro Legislator expressed gratitude to both the Ghanaian and Ivorian governments for considering the plight of traders in both countries, thereby, opening the border.
The MP was happy because the once vibrant Elubo town, which went ‘dead’, would now bounce back to life due to the opening of the two borders.
“I am really happy, because we are tired. My people are tired, and I am tired, because I have championed the reopening for a long time, and I thank President Akufo-Addo that at long last, the government’s negotiations with the Ivorian counterpart has been fruitful and the border has been opened,” Madam Afo Toffey told newsmen at Elubo.
She said: “It’s been long overdue, because just last week, I spoke about it in an interview urging the President to do all he can to get the border opened, and so we thank God for that.”
She added: “It has not been easy for those border towns, because Elubo was a vibrant town, but people resorted to begging due to the closure.”
Madam Afo Toffey urged the traders to go back to their businesses, and expressed optimism that soon businesses that collapsed would bounce back on their feet.
