Abdulrazaq hosts President Mahama, calls for improved economic ties between Nigeria – Ghana

By Stephen Oladele

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has called for improved economic ties between Nigeria and Ghana from which the two country can derive greater mutual economic benefits

The Governor made the call while  receiving the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, in his office.

The Ghanaian President, who was represented by his Chief of Staff Dr Julius Debrah, paid a courtesy visit to Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin before heading to Offa for the maiden Convocation of the University of Offa.

Abdulrazaq  who noted that the two countries have long maintained a cordial political relationship that continues to foster trade, industrial development and regional integration said  that a lot of benefits are obtainable from stronger economic ties.

“We need to move from political discussions to stronger economic ties, developing Africa, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement being in place,”

“We need to ease border restrictions for movement of goods and services, trade manufacturing, increase our GDP, and create more jobs within West Africa,” he stated. 

The governor said there was the need to establish a common currency for the British West African sub-region similar to the currency arrangement among French-speaking West African countries.

He also called for a clear timeline of implementation for the proposed single currency, noting, if achieved,  it would be a major milestone that could accelerate regional economic integration.

Abdulrazaq identified the Trans-West African Highway and Abidjan-Lagos Coastal Road as major regional infrastructure projects that he said are critical to improving connectivity and facilitating trade among West African countries.

The governor, while speaking about Kwara, sought increased co-operation between his state and Ghana in the area of cocoa production, its processing and management.

Abdulrazaq who noted that Kwara was among the Nigerian states that produce cocoa, said that the state stands to benefit from Ghana’s experience in sustaining its position as a leading global cocoa producer.

In his brief remarks, President Mahama agreed with Abdulrazaq on having stronger bilateral trade relations with Nigeria, with the belief that economic cooperation should go beyond ECOWAS’ political framework.

“As the Governor stated, ECOWAS, for instance, has been more of a political arrangement, but he said we can deepen it by considering bilateral trade arrangements between our two countries. And we also believe that since the Inter-African Continental Free Trade is based in Accra, we should also make sure that trade between our two countries improves,” he said.

Other members of the delegation were Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Authority, Mr. Simon Madjie, and Dr Tenewa Asamoah who is Head of Political and Economic Affairs in the Commission, among others.