Iran stresses consolidation of ties with Ghana

Iran on Wednesday stressed the importance of exchanging delegations and establishing joint commissions with Ghana in order to consolidate ties.

Visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's special envoy and Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Mohammad Reza Baqeri met with Ghana's Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Baqeri gave a synopsis of latest developments in Iran's peaceful nuclear program and measures taken by the country to build confidence.

"Nuclear technology in Iran is localized based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and all international regulations.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei, in a recent report, explicitly stated that Iran's nuclear activities have not been diverted to non-peaceful purposes," he said.

He said the issue has politicized.

"Just like the issue of human rights, Western states led by the US always accuse developing countries of violating human rights but themselves pay the least attention and respect for humans." He said that the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons and cases of torture used on inmates in these prisons are clear examples of their dual approach to the human rights issue.

The Ghanaian vice-president, for his part, voiced his country's willingness to expand bilateral ties with Tehran, saying Iran tops countries considered by Ghana as its friends and will strive to bolster cooperation with Iran.

He praised Iran's development, agricultural, health and educational cooperation with Ghana.

Noting the growing need of all countries for energy, he said all nations have the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, in particular for use in their medical, electrical or agricultural industries.