Po (Burkina Faso) Dec. 15, GNA - Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister led a Ghanaian delegation to Po in Burkina Faso, to celebrate the country's 49th Independence Day celebration. The celebration took place at the Central-Southern Region of Burkina Faso on the theme: "Intensifying Agricultural Development during the Dry Season."

Mr. Woyongo who addressed the function expressed the need for the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the two nations.

He said development could only take place if people of the two states realised their common identity and ignore the artificial boundaries dividing them, since they have common ancestry. Mr. Woyongo appealed to Burkinabes to team up with Ghana to combat crime and stop the illegal importation of fire arms, which creates social injustices such as armed robbery and conflicts. The Governor of the Central-Southern Region, Mr. Raymond Eduado Quadraego noted that there was a common destiny that binds the people of the area and Upper East together.

He lauded efforts by the two regions to boost agricultural production, which he said could reduce malnutrition and wipe away poverty. Mr. Quadraego underscored the need for the two regions to forget about the borders imposed by the colonial masters to divide them and rather concentrate on ways to develop. He noted that Africa had all it needed to develop but because of the selfishness of some of its leaders it remained under develop and called on the regional leaders to change their attitude to reverse the trend. 15 Dec. 09