President Jerry John Rawlings has called for the reactivation of the Ghana/Brazil Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation to promote economic activities between them.

He said this point was raised when a Ghana Trade and Investment delegation visited Brazil in March 1997 and added "we look forward to receiving a favourable response". The President said this when Mr. Paulo Americo Wolowski, Ambassador of Brazil, presented his letters of credence to the president at the State House. He said Brazil has offered Ghana valuable technical assistance in areas such as agriculture as well as in language courses in Brazil for students and foreign service officers. President Rawlings said another shining example of Brazil's co-operation with Ghana is the tie between Braspetro Technical and Management Co-operation and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. Mr. Polowski said there are many areas in which Brazil and Ghana could co-operate for social and economic development. "This is a never-ending fight in which co-operation goes hand-in-hand. I think the economic developments in Brazil in recent years give us some areas and grounds to share." He spoke about the Common Market in South America (MERCOSUL) and said it could collaborate with ECOWAS. "Ghana will have an important role in this mutual quest drawing on the vast experience as a leader in ECOWAS affairs."

In another ceremony, President Rawlings welcomed steps being taken by Ghana and Poland to expand their economic activities and said their relations have survived political, social and economic upheavals in the recent past. ''We welcome the decision to update the Ghana-Poland economic agreement and the signing of a new agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation'', he said this when Mr. Jan Padlewski, Ambassador of Poland, presented his letters of credence to him at the State House. President Rawlings said he is pleased that a special Polish trade delegation would soon visit Ghana. He therefore urged the ambassador to encourage more Polish entrepreneurs to focus on Ghana where they will find a congenial economic environment to establish viable trade links and joint ventures with Ghanaian businessmen. President Rawlings spoke about the December general elections and said as usual, the international community would be invited to send observers. However, he added, this time observers would be welcome from Poland as well.

Mr. Padlewski called for an expansion in trade links between Ghana and Poland, saying current trends fall below expectation. ''We have resolved to update Ghana-Poland trade agreements''.