Nigeria And Ghana Are The Engine For Development

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Sam Okechukwu has underlined the need for a continuing collaborative effort between the two countries if their desire to extend the frontiers of development in the West African sub-region is to be realised.

Speaking recently in Accra during a reception in honour of a delegation of Ikoyi Tennis Club members, Ambassador Okechukwu noted that Nigeria and Ghana account for 59% of the total population of the sub-region.

According to him, between them, they also share 76% of the GDP, 62% of the total exports and 50% of all imports to West Africa .

Tracing a long history of the cordial relations between the two countries, he said: "From as far back as the period of colonial rule, one may easily recall their participation in the West African currency Board, Bank of British West Africa, Royal West African Frontier Force, West African Airways Corporation and the West African Cocoa control Board".

Okechukwu identified the more contemporary intercourse to include fruitful cooperation in the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity, Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77, the Economic community of West African States and ECOWAS Peace Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). Others include the West African Gas Pipeline Project, West African Examination Council, and peace-keeping operations, such as in Congo, Lebanon, Yugoslavia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Angola.

"These interactions are certain to continue into the foreseeable future. Along with some other countries, Ghana and Nigeria have committed themselves to the creation of a single monetary zone in West Africa by January 2004," the High Commissioner disclosed. He added that the realisation of this goal will lead to the introduction of a single currency within the sub-region noting that the recently inaugurated ECOWAS travelers' cheques are already facilitating business transactions within the sub-region.

Furthermore, the envoy gave hint that a West African railway line which will link Ghana, Nigeria and other West African countries was already in the works. He said with the easing of restrictions on movement within the West African sub- region, trade between the two countries was on the increase adding; "collaborative ventures in sectors like home movies are becoming common place between nationals of the two countries".

He stated that the primary objectives of Nigeria's foreign policy was to remain on friendly terms with all nations and to make meaningful contributions to world peace adding: "these aims are informed by Nigeria's realisation that development can best be undertaken and achieved in an environment which is free of strife and antagonisms".

He said the decision to donate a trophy which will be contested for by the Accra Lawn Tennis Club and the Tennis section of Ikoyi Club was along the line of further diversifying the positive contacts between the two countries and generate worthwhile business and social relationships.

Developments in Nigeria since independence, Okechukwu noted, have been characterised by gains and set backs as it was common in most post-colonial societies.

However, he stated that since the inauguration of the democratic dispensation in May, 1999 in which President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as helmsman, a lot of accomplishments have been recorded.

According to him, these include the passing of the anti corruption bill which is intended to rid Nigeria of the unhealthy phenomenon of corruption.

He said since the initiative had started paying dividends already, the recent characterisation of Nigeria as the most corrupt nation must have been based on obsolete data and therefore, unacceptable.

Enumerating the other accomplishments of the democratic order, he listed;

the N10 billion naira set aside to tackle the scourge of poverty,

the launching of the Universal Basic Education Scheme, the addressing of the Niger Delta problem through the passing of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the respect for human rights, among others as democracy dividends to Nigerians.