Tamale, July 7, GNA - Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister has urged Ghana and Nigeria to strengthen their bilateral ties by cooperating more in the areas of commerce, industry and culture. He said it would be to the mutual benefit of the two countries and the sub-region in general to expand their trade relations instead of trading more with the advanced countries sometimes, to their disadvantage. Mr Debrah made this call when the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana Dr Olatunji Kolapo paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Tamale on Wednesday.

The Minister said the government was committed to the development of the private sector, adding: "Trade between Ghana and Nigeria will certainly serve as a further boost to businessmen in our two countries". Mr Debrah noted that there were a lot of Ghanaians living in Nigeria because of the cordial relationship existing between the two countries and advised Nigerians resident in the Tamale Metropolis to interact more often with the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to express their problems and concerns, saying: "We are brothers and sisters who must see to the welfare of one another".

Dr Kolapo on his part expressed satisfaction with the mutual relations existing between the two countries, hoping that by next year when the English-speaking ECOWAS members in the sub-region begin to use a common currency, trading among them would expand.

He also lauded the cordial relationship between the Presidents of the two countries saying: "This is a healthy sign worthy of emulation by our citizens".