Ghana and Iran on Wednesday agreed to co-operate with each other at international forums and in the areas of investment, maritime and rail transport, construction, education and health, a statement issued in Accra said.

It said further emphasis was on increased trade and the processing of raw material for export and local consumption. The agreement was reached at the Second Session of the Ghana/Iran Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation held in Accra.

It was attended by a delegation from Iran headed by Dr Ali Abdul Ali Zadeh, Minister of Housing and Urbanisation while the Ghanaian delegation was led Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Ghanaian side, the statement said, further agreed to export to Iran tropical fruits, hardwood products and assorted handicrafts while Iran agreed to undertake constructional and engineering works in Ghana, especially in laying and the maintenance of railways and the sale of pharmaceutical products.

During discussions, on the review of the content and state of implementation of the decisions reached at the inaugural session of the joint commission in 1990, the two sides agreed that some gains had been made and resolved to implement future sessions more assiduously.

The statement said to that end the Ghanaian side acknowledged Iranian technical and financial assistance in the establishment of an Islamic university and rural agricultural development in Northern Ghana. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the cordial and frank atmosphere, which prevailed during the two-day intensive deliberations.

Whilst in the Country the Iranian Minister paid courtesy calls on President J. A. Kufuor, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament and Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing. The head of the Iranian delegation also laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and inspected Iranian projects in the country.