President John Dramani Mahama on Friday called for closer relations between Ghana and Nigeria as both countries have had the same developmental potentials and challenges over the years.

He said Ghana would particularly partner Nigeria, which had developed effectively in the banking reforms sector and could share her experiences with others.

President Mahama made this statement when Dr Ngozi Okanjo Iweala, Nigerian Minister for Finance and Economics called on him at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.

The Nigerian Minister, one time Managing Director of the World Bank, who is in the country to deliver a paper on the second Kufuor Foundation lectures, was at the Presidency to share some political ideas with the President.

President Mahama said paramount issues among West African Countries, was to forge ahead for the integration of the region to make it formidable against other regions and continents in the world.

He said although language had been a major barrier to the integration, there was the need to begin in certain areas that could finally facilitate the full integration of the region.

He said after economic and financial crises had hit Europe and other continents in the past, the onus was now on Africa to spring up, in view of the fact that there were numerous natural resource deposits in the country.

President Mahama called for the strengthening of trade links that could make the continent self-reliant and stem over-reliance on other continents.

Dr Iweala, who was accompanied by Mr Seth Terkper, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Frank Agyekum, Spokesman for former President Kufuor and other executive members of the Foundation congratulated President Mahama for his victory and coronation as President of the Republic.

She said Nigeria and Ghana had common challenges of high rate of unemployment, job creation and poor management of natural resources and called for collaboration that would enhance their economic opportunities.

The former Managing Director of the World Bank commended President Mahama for instituting legislations for the management of natural resources, which she said would at the long-run bring substantial benefits to all Ghanaians.