Vice President Aliu Mahama re-affirming Ghana's resolve to work for lasting peace and stability in the Sub-region, on Wednesday said the government, which is firmly supporting peace initiatives in troubled Cote d'Ivoire, was poised to assist the reconstruction of Sierra Leone.

Vice President Mahama said this when he received his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Mr. Solomon Ekuma Berewa at the Castle Osu.

The Information Minister, Professor Septmus Kakai, Sierra Leone's High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Ali Bangura and other officials accompanied Mr Berewa, who arrived in Accra on Wednesday from Paris, where he attended a four-day business and consultative conference on the rebuilding of Sierra Leone.

Vice President Mahama said: "Ghana has the expertise, particularly in the areas of trade, construction and mining, to help in the reconstruction of your country. Our people are willing to share their experiences with you."

Ten years of civil war in Sierra Leone have destroyed major infrastructure of that country. Mr Berewa welcomed the gesture and thanked Ghana for her contribution towards the restoration of peace in his country.

He said the reconstruction programme had started, adding that the government was keen to see it through. The Vice President lauded the recent Ghana-Sierra Leone Trade and

Business Exhibition held in his country, saying the event demonstrated the potentials of the participants.

He said, efforts were underway to consolidate the gains of the event and to expand trade and investment opportunities.

Foreign Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang announced that Ghana was acquiring land for building her mission in Sierra Leone and expressed the hope that relations between the two counties would deepen for their mutual benefit.