Accra, July 8, GNA - The Ministers of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD of Ghana and Benin have expressed concern about trade barriers still existing in West Africa.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and his Benin counterpart Mr. Cosme Sehlin noted during talks in Cotonou, Benin, that traders who crossed borders still experienced harassment, distortion and undue delays. This is despite all efforts made by the authorities in the sub-region to resolve them and effectively implement the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.

Dr Apraku is in Benin at the head of Ghana's delegation to the Third Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Governors of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.

A statement in Accra signed by Mr. Kofi Asante, Economics Officer of the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, said the two Ministers agreed that as a way forward, a tripartite meeting should be held in Accra by the end of July between Ghana, Togo and Benin to discuss ways of resolving the problem.

The statement said the Benin President, Mathieu Kerekou had instructed that all efforts should be made to remove trade barriers between Ghana and Benin.