The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, at the weekend urged the government of Burkina Faso to muster the requisite political will to complement efforts being made by the Ghana government to ensure the socio-economic integration of the two countries.

He said this could be achieved by removing all bottlenecks that impede the free flow of people and goods without much time wasting at the various checkpoints, stressing that "We are one people separated by an artificial boundary."

Mr Salifu said these when he attended the commissioning of a new cattle market built by the Burkina Faso government at Guelwongo in the Nahouri Province near the border with Ghana, at a cost of 92 million CFA francs.

The project, which was financed by the Canadian government, is to serve as a transit point for over 3,000 cattle and other ruminants for onward transportation to Ghana on a daily basis. \ The Regional Minister said integration calls for prioritisation and diversification of the resources of the two neighbouring countries to create employment and wealth for the people.

Mr. Salifu reiterated government's pledge to abide by the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement of persons goods and services and to help speed up the process of integrating the sub-region politically, socially and economically.

The Regional Minister commended the people of Burkina Faso for extending an invitation to Ghana to grace the occasion to foster and deepen ties, adding, "Our presence here is a sign of brotherhood and togetherness."

The Burkinabe Minister for Animal Resources, Monsieur Alphonse Bonois, said the location of the project near the border with Ghana was a clear manifestation of his government's determination to ensure that trade between the two countries improved towards the total integration of the two countries.

He also pledged his country's commitment to ensure the free flow of persons and goods to boost economic activities in the sub-region.

The Commissioner of Nahouri Province, Monsieur Hebe Adama, thanked his Ghanaian counterpart for his presence and gave the assurance that no impediments would be put in the way of Ghanaian traders who patronized the market