The session will take place from the 12th to the 14th of December 2018. It is being held in fulfillment of the decision taken by the Heads of State of the two countries during a working visit by the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in September 2018, to convene the session before the end of the year 2018.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Harold Agyeman, Director of Africa and Regional Integration Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana said that the session is in consideration of the political will that exists between the leadership of both countries.

He said that Ghana and Burkina Faso have had a long standing relationship, sharing their history, culture and more.

Mr Agyeman said the shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous and mobilized West Africa unites both countries and, therefore, urged officials at the session to work diligently to advance the course of the African people.

Ambassador Morgan Brown, Supervising Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration commended the level of participation by the two states and urged them to work together to promote their well-being and success.

He noted that the session will focus on certain key areas and cited the railway and connectivity project as one of the indications of the co-operation between the two states. He again urged participants to bear in mind how the twelfth session will be of benefit to Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Ambassador Daouda Diallo, Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of the Republic

of Burkina Faso and other officials from both countries.

The Joint Commission will consider Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in several areas such as Agriculture, Aviation, Education and Sanitation.

Agreements will be signed during the session or deferred for signature during state or working visits by one of the two Heads of State.

The two day session will also feature talks from personalities such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic

of Burkina Faso and the Minister of Food and Agriculture for Ghana, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.