Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - The World Bank (WB) on Wednesday tasked African leaders to back aspirations with action and work together to align the policies, institutions and investments needed to un-block intra-Africa economic barriers to create a dynamic regional market.

"It is clear that Africa is not reaching her potential for regional trade, despite the fact that its benefits are enormous, they create larger markets, help countries diversify their economies, reduce costs, improve productivity and help reduce poverty.

"Yet trade and non-trade barriers remain significant and fall most heavily and disproportionately on poor traders, most of whom are women," Mr Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili, WB Vice President for Africa stated in a document made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.