Osinbajo, Ghanaian President agrees increased cooperation

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo met behind closed doors with Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo at the Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President) who confirmed the visit in a statement said the two leaders agreed to increase cooperation between the two countries for the benefit and development of the West African Sub-region.

He said that the bilateral agreement was part of the outcome of the closed door meeting between Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and the visiting Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, held at the official residence of the Nigerian acting President on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the presidential aide, during the meeting that followed, the two leaders highlighted the critical role that Nigeria and Ghana play as the “centre piece’’ of the West African sub-region.

“Discussions between the two leaders touched on the forthcoming African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, ongoing negotiations on the Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and the revitalisation of the Ghana-Nigeria Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation.

“Both leaders pledged to intensify bilateral cooperation for the benefit and development of the sub-region,’’ he said.

According to the statement, Akufo-Addo thanked the acting president for receiving his delegation on a special day, when Nigeria was commemorating Eid-el-Fitr.

It would be recalled that Akufo-Addo first visited Nigeria on Dec. 19, 2016, where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Akufo-Addo later attended the Imo State Thanksgiving Day in Owerri.