Takikro (Cote d'Ivoire) April 22, GNA- Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Interior on Monday paid a courtesy call on Captain Leonard Akeatse, Base Commander of Immigration Service in-charge of the Border Station at Takikro in the Cote d'Ivoire.

The Ghanaian Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for New Juaben North in the Eastern Region, was accompanied by Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Edwin Barnes, Chief Director of the Ministry and some Service Commanders including Mr. William Asiedu, Acting Director-General of Prisons, Mr. Emmanuel A. Atenga, Acting Chief Fire Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Adjei, Chief Director, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and Mr. Akrofi Asiedu, Brong-Ahafo Police Commander.

In a short welcoming address, Captain Akeatse expressed his country's gratitude to President John A. Kufuor, Chairman of ECOWAS, for his intermediary role played in the peacekeeping process in Cote d'Ivoire.

Captain Akeatse expressed appreciation for the various roles that President Kufuor played and continued to play in the Ivorian crisis and in other ECOWAS-member countries, saying it showed a good leadership of international repute.

"The fatherly attitude of the Ghanaian President testifies that in practical terms President Kufuor believes in the true spirit of the ECOWAS Accord and its oneness as member-states", he added.

Captain Akeatse expressed gratitude for the visit by the Interior Minister to his operational area and commended the Ghanaian leadership for the key role it is playing in the peace-mediation process in Cote D'Ivoire and prayed that such efforts would yield good dividends in the end.

"It is the hope of some of us that Ghana will do everything possible to help the feuding factions or groups to see the need for peace in Ivory Coast", he added.

Mr. Owusu-Agyemang was equally happy about the cordial relationship existing between border commanders and personnel at Gonokrom and Takikro and expressed the hope that such brotherliness would continue to grow. "We don't want any problem at the border posts and in view of this my Ministry makes sure that our security commanders and their personnel are not found wanting in the spirit and tenets of the ECOWAS Accord", he said.

The Interior Minister called on Captain Akeatse and his personnel to make ECOWAS a very viable entity by operating under its true interpretation.

He later paid a similar call on Bahi-Tho Matias, a Chef in-charge of the Police Post at Takikro.