Kwara Governor Turns to Ghana for Help to Boost Cocoa Production

(Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Photo by Kwara State Government)

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has asked Ghana to share its know-how in growing, processing and managing cocoa.

He made the request on Monday while receiving a Ghanaian delegation led by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who came on behalf of President John Mahama.

The visit was at Government House in Ilorin.

He said Kwara is one of Nigeria's cocoa producing states and could learn a lot from Ghana, one of the world's top cocoa producers.

He also called for closer economic ties between Nigeria and Ghana.

He said the two countries should ease border rules on goods and services, grow trade and create jobs across West Africa.

He backed a common currency for the British speaking West African countries, like the one used by French speaking countries, and asked for a clear timeline.

He also named the Trans West African Highway and the Abidjan Lagos Coastal Road as key projects for linking the region.

Mahama's team agreed. Debrah said ECOWAS has mostly been a political body and that the two countries can go further through bilateral trade deals.

He also pointed out that the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat is based in Accra, so trade between Nigeria and Ghana should grow.