Accra, Sept 29, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday called for the

implementation of a Customs union which had been on the drawing board of th= e

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)for years now. Its implementation, he said, would not only facilitate the movement of goods and

people within the sub-region, but would also pave way for subsequent implementation of

other agreements such as Free Trade Zone, Economic Partnership Agreements a= nd

regional energy strategy. Vice President Mahama made the call when he addressed Nigeria's 51st Independence

Anniversary Lecture under the theme: 93The Leadership Role of Nigeria and Ghana in the

Sub-Regional Integration of ECOWAS." The lecture was organised by the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana under the

auspices of Musiliu M.O Obanikoro, Nigerian High Commissioner and attended by

government functionaries, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr Ike Ekweremadu,

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Nana Akuffo-

Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the 2012 elections, Members of

the Diplomatic corps and students from other African countries. Vice President Mahama said the Customs Union, which involved trading goods between

countries without any customs restrictions among member states, could spur the private

sector to invigorate their businesses and reduce overdependence on imports from the

Western countries. He observed that although its implementation had over the years been lauded by

member countries, Ghana and Nigeria had respected democracies and could therefore

blaze the trail in that respect for other countries to emulate. "We need the countries with the political will to start the ECOWAS Customs Union to

encourage other member countries to join in the implementation for the benefit of all." The Vice President stated that although the sub-region had made some tremendous

strides in the past few years, issues of insecurity, artificial barriers and petty conflicts were

still undermining the progress and growth of the continent and called on me= mber

countries to prioritize those areas to tailor strategies for development. "The continent is making some progress, but there is also the need to remove the

numerous security checkpoints, illegal barriers and work against the high level of

insecurity on our roads." Former President John Agyekum Kufuor called on African countries to encourage

massive agricultural activities that would make them self-reliant and net exporters of food

to other continents in the coming years. He said the perennial influx of both raw and finished goods from other continents was

not only stifling the domestic economic initiatives of African countries, but also imposed

unnecessary competition on local African products. Former President Kufuor called for the reinvigoration of democratic institutions across

the continent as a way of discouraging political conflicts and election malpractices to pave

the way for a smooth democratic dispensation. Mr Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament said the only way ECOWAS

member-counties could achieve their integration programme was through the

reinforcement of existing partnerships, dismantling artificial barriers and= the

implementation of zero tolerance for conflicts and corruption. He called on member countries to make ample use of the expertise and technical

know-how of the advanced African countries to develop the less privileged states in the

sub-region, as an encouragement for them to strive for higher development programmes. Nana Prah Agyensam, Paramount chief of Owirenkyi in the Central Region, who chaired

the programme, congratulated all Nigerians on the 51st Independence Anniversary and

appealed to them to use the occasion as an opportunity to do some stock-taking to

improve on their own lot and that of their neighbours.