General News of Monday, 18 August 2003

Source: GNA

Ghana and Equatorial Guinea hold bilateral talks

Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday pledged government's commitment to co-operate with Equatorial Guinea on all facets of social and economic development.

He, therefore, stressed the need to re-activate the Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation between the two countries. "We will do anything to improve on the relationship between the two countries," he said.

President Kufuor was speaking at the beginning of bilateral talks between delegations from the two countries at the Castle, Osu. The talks formed part of the programme of the two-day state visit to Ghana by President Teodoro Obiang N'Guema M'basogo of Equatorial Guinea.

Earlier President Kufuor and his guest held discussions behind closed doors.

President M'basogo appealed to the governments of both countries not to delay in the implementation of decisions taken at the talks for their mutual benefit.

He said the government of Equatorial Guinea would expect a feed back from their Ghanaian counterpart when President Kufuor pays a reciprocal visit to Equatorial Guinea in the future. President M'basogo commended President Kufuor for his sterling leadership qualities in restoring peace and stability in the West Africa Sub-Region.

He said under his leadership, there had been a remarkable improvement in the practice of democracy in Ghana that was worthy of copying by other states in the Sub-Region.