Kumasi, Aug 14, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has urged the leadership of Ghana and Nigeria to be committed to strengthening the South-South Cooperation and the bilateral relationship existing between them. He said there was the need for them to collaborate effectively in the pursuit of good governance, deepening democracy, rule of law, and economic and cultural exchanges to help them realize their full development potentials.
The Asantehene said this when Mr Muhammed Musiliu Obanikoro, Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday. He was accompanied by a delegation of the Nigerian community in Ghana. The Asantehene said the two countries were being looked up to by countries in sub-Saharan Africa to emancipate the sub-region from her socio-economic challenges.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu spoke about some recent skirmishes that characterised the selection of a leader by the Nigerian community in the Ashanti region and cautioned factions involved in the impasse to settle their differences amicably for peace to prevail. The Asantehene further cautioned other settler and foreign communities to desist from violence and vandalism when choosing their leaders, saying "I will not countenance any attempt by any group to throw the region into turmoil as a result of chieftaincy disputes". He appealed to the Nigerian government to work hard to ensure the progress of work on the West African gas pipe-line project for the socio-economic benefit of countries in the sub-Saharan region.
Mr Obanikoro praised the Asantehene for his good leadership skills and warm relationship with the Nigerian community in the region. He said it behoved on members of the community to bury their differences and unite for the promotion of intra-tribal and ethnic relationship in the region. The High Commissioner later called on the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei-Assibey Antwi at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) where he was briefed on the Administrative set up and tourism centres in the region.
