Bolgatanga, July 28, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister, Boniface Gambila, on Friday reiterated the need for Ghana and her neighbours, especially Burkina Faso, to re-direct and enforce the sharing of resources to fight poverty which he indicated, was endemic in the sub-region.

He noted that collaboration in the areas of food security, health and good environmental practices, should be sustained and given a boost as a way of re-energizing the available resources for improving the living conditions of the people.

The Minister said this in Bolgatanga, when the new Consular of Burkina Faso for the Northern Sector of Ghana, Ambrose Silga, paid a courtesy call on him in Bolgatanga.

The visit would enable the new Consular to familiarise with his new environment. The regions under the newly created Northern Consulate include the Western, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, and the Upper West Regions.

The creation of the consulate is to strengthen bilateral ties between Ghana and Burkina Faso, as well as to meet the aspirations of ECOWAS member countries in the spirit of facilitating a formidable, free trade in the sub-region.

Mr Gambila indicated that artificial frontiers created by colonial powers were still a major canker that drew back the sense of belonging between the two countries.

He therefore advocated a lasting psychological drive in the spirit of ECOWAS to erase these artificial barriers that divided the two countries.

Mr Gambila called on the Burkinabe government to make room to absorb Ghanaians living in Burkina Faso in its National Identification Programme by registering those citizens in that country, adding that Ghana would create room to include nationals of other sister countries when it begins its National identification programme. He said Ghana's bid to start an identification programme had been misconstrued by a section of the public to be an aliens' compliance order.

He debunked this assertion and said government would ensure that all citizens are well protected in accordance to the spirit of the country's constitution.

The new consular said it was important that the two countries strengthened their bilateral cooperation for the benefit of their citizens.

He noted that the creation of the consulate was his country's determination to strengthen ties between the two countries. He added that the new office would enhance the already existing co-operation enjoyed by the two countries.