President-Elect Akufo-Addo Calls For Stronger Ties Between Ghana And Nigeria

Ghana’s president-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to strengthen the existing relations between Ghana and Nigeria.

Nana Akufo-Addo said this on Tuesday at a private meeting with the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The president-elect who was in Owerri, capital of Imo state, for a special thanksgiving service organized by the Imo State Government, described the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana as cordial, and assured his determination with the mandate of the people of Ghana to do everything to achieve even better relations with Nigeria.

He said: “The relationship is a matter of great strategic importance to my country especially to improve the living condition of my people.”

The President-elect left Accra last Sunday for a three-day visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

For his part, Governor Rochas Okorocha said the thanksgiving service was designed by government as part of Christmas celebration to take care of the needy.

“I came on a private visit to Lagos on Sunday to participate in the Future of Africa Awards and I thought it is proper that I take that opportunity to come to Abuja to pay my respect to the President,” Nana Addo told the Nigerian State House correspondents.

“I have been elected but I have not taken the oath of office. That will be taking place on January 7. But in the meantime, I have come to introduce myself to President Buhari so that we begin to know each other.”

“The relationship between our two countries is so important for our countries, West Africa and Africa. I think those of us who are in positions of leadership need to know each other and have an understanding and address the main concerns of our populations.”

“I had the opportunity to say a belated happy birthday to the President. His birthday is an important day in my life because that day is my late mother’s birthday.”

“We had a very good exchange. We are determined to grow the relationship between our two countries.”

In his statement earlier, former President Olusegun Obasanjo extolled the rapid development in Imo State compared to how it used to be.

President-elect Akufo-Addo has since returned home.