Ho, Aug. 20, GNA - Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, on Thursday called for the transformation of the existing international relationship between Ghana and Nigeria into economic and cultural diplomacy for the benefit of both countries.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa made the call when the Nigerian High Commissioner, Dr Olatunji Kolapo called on him in Ho.

The High Commissioner's visit was to interact with the Nigerian community in Ho.

The Regional Minister said such transformation would further deepen the already mutual co-operation and collaboration between the two countries towards the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said the intra-West African and African integration based on the tenets of the African Union and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) would engender healthy economic competition, good governance and democracy on the Continent.

It would also enhance her international competitiveness, which at the moment was only a dream, he said. Mr Owusu-Yeboa called for the achievement of the West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) embracing Anglophone countries including Ghana and Nigeria for the promotion of strong sub-regional economies. He stressed the need to enhance, sustain and harness the two countries' common relationship of ensuring decent lives for the people of the two countries. Replying, Dr Kolapo pledged his Government's commitment to cooperate with Ghana and prayed that all the aspirations of the two countries would materialise to bring comfort to their people. He commended President John Agyekum Kufuor and President Olusegun Obasanjo for their leadership roles towards the maintenance of peace in the Sub-Region and Africa at large. Dr Kolapo said he was grateful for the Ghanaian hospitality towards Nigerians in the country and called for appropriate punishment for Nigerians, who flouted the laws of the country. He paid a courtesy call on the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV and his elders.