Côte d'Ivoire has beseeched the support of Ghana to help strengthen efforts to ensure that ECOWAS's agreements on the easy movement of goods and people between both countries is effective.

This statement was made known by President Alassane Quattara during the commemoration of the country's 58th Independence Day held on August 7, 2018.

Celebrating the Day at Noe, the Sub Prefecture capital town that shares boundary with Ghana, the Honourable Member of the area, Dr. Ahui Awanzi who spoke on behalf of President Quattara stressed that Côte d'Ivoire has a strong relationship with Ghana and promised to maintain this cordial relationship.

"Dear fellow citizens, I told you earlier that our country has excellent relations with the rest of the world, especially with its neighbors. This situation is also observed at the local level where we, representatives of the Ivorian administration in service to Noe have good relations with the Ghanaian authorities in office in Elubo. Likewise, we rejoice that the people of Noe and Elubo have very remarkable fraternal relations", he emphasized.

Dr. Awanzi used the occasion to assure Ghanaians that his country would always endeavour to facilitate trade, the free movement of goods and services as well as to promote culture heritage.

Expressing confidence that the two countries would make immense contributions towards ECOWAS' goal, he said, "We assure them that the Ivorian administration present at Noe will always endeavour to facilitate trade, the free movement of goods and people as well as the culture between our populations in accordance with the vision of President Alassane Quattara who seeks to achieve a better integrated Africa", he said.

Speaking on behalf of Ghanaian delegation, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jomoro Municipality of Western Region, Mr. Ernest Kofie thanked Côte d'Ivoire for the invite to honour their 58th Independence Day celebration.

He assured the Côte d'Ivoire country on behalf of Ghana's President, President Akufo-Addo that Ghana would also be working hard to make free movement of goods and services very easy for both countries.

He called on the French-speaking them to invest massively in Ghana's economy.