President Nana Akufo-Addo has called for more trading among members of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) as he wraps up the first phase of his tour of West Africa.

He also called on ECOWAS leaders to show strong political will to make ECOWAS an economic and political success, and to make the integration of the region real.

He said: “I am fully committed, and I know President Alassane Ouattara is too. With West Africa’s population set to reach some 500 million people in 20 years time, there are immense opportunities to bring prosperity to our region with hard work, enterprise and creativity.

“The time for West African integration is now. Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire should be at the forefront of the process that will convert ECOWAS into a true regional market,” he added.