The commitments comes at the back of a three-day high level meeting between the two countries, led by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, for Ghana and Nigeria respectively.

Dubbed the seventh session of the Ghana and Nigeria Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC), the meeting brought together delegations from both countries to deliberate on various issues including economic, finance, trade and investment, defence and security, social development, transport and communication, environment, agriculture and aquaculture.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Madam Khadija Ibrahim, commended the teams for the intense efforts put in developing the various outcomes saying that the two governments were eager to implement the decisions to improve the livelihoods of its peoples.

She challenged the committees to continue the engagement at the various levels for the purpose of reaching consensus in all the areas and the implementation plans.

She underscored the need for the two countries to engage in regular talks and deliberations that would provide the avenue for ensuring peace and security and create the enabling economic environment in the two countries.

“Deliberations like this remain the surest way to assure our good peoples that their peace and security have not been taken for granted. In this regard, I suggest that meetings and consultations should become regular, so together we can work to build our individual countries,” Madam Ibrahim stated.

Mr. Albert Yankey, acting Chief Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said the meeting offered the platform for nine agreements to be considered including agreement on educational cooperation, agreement on economic trade cooperation, bilateral air services agreement, agreement on youth development among others.

He reiterated the need for effective implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting to achieve the objectives of the PJCC.

BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS