Vice-President Aliu Mahama on Tuesday lauded the development interventions of Iran in Ghana and said this support would complement government's efforts to open up the rural areas.

He said the goodwill by Iran dating back to the 1950's covers projects on health, agriculture and education, which are vital to the development of the rural areas as well as the national growth.

Alhaji Mahama was speaking at a meeting with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Mohammed Sadr who led a three-member delegation to call on him at the State House. Dr Sadr is in the country to seek ways of improving bilateral relations.

he Vice-President commended Iran for establishing two clinics in Accra and initiating the Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) programme and other development projects in the Northern Region.

He said agriculture remains the backbone of the national economy hence the efforts by government to revamp the sector. Illiteracy also remains very high in the rural areas. This therefore calls for more interventions by government with the support of friendly countries like Iran.

Alhaji Mahama said Iran has participated in a number of trade exhibitions in Ghana, and called on the country to use its expertise in entrepreneur development to support the growth of the private sector.

He said government hopes to continue with the economic co-operation started between the two countries in the early 1990's and strengthen the diplomatic ties.

Dr Sadr congratulated Ghana for organising a successful change of government through elections. "I am happy to see the establishment of democracy in Ghana".

He expressed the wish of his country to improve political and economic co-operation with Ghana and invited President John Agyekum Kufuor to Iran to facilitate the process.

Mr Kwame Amoa-Awua of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to Iran to establish satellite campuses of the new Islamic University in Ghana.