From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Pretoria, South Africa

Pretoria, South Africa, May 8, GNA - Ghana and South Africa on Tuesday pledged to deepen their co-operation and work together to bring peace and stability to trouble spots in Africa.

This was the outcome of a meeting held between President John Agyekum Kufuor, who is the current Chairman of the African Union (AU) and his South African counterpart, President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria. The two leaders reviewed at length the political situation in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Guinea and other conflict areas in the region. President Kufuor opened the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the legislative body of the AU, on Monday. Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, said the two Heads of State also used their meeting to discuss bilateral relations between their countries and renewed their commitment to further strengthen it.

Another important issue that engaged their attention, he said, was the upcoming AU summit in Accra, the main agenda of which would be the direction of the Union Government of Africa, adding that the two agreed to ensure closer co-operation for the success of the summit. President Kufuor is scheduled to visit the NEPAD Secretariat later in the day.

Meanwhile, President Mbeki is expected in Ghana in July to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Cape Coast.