Accra, July 25, GNA - President Jerry John Rawings, on behalf of the people and government of Ghana, and on his own behalf, on Sunday expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to King Mohammed VI and the people of Morocco over the death of their monarch, King Hassan II, which occurred at the weekend.

"I have learnt of the death of your illustrious father, King Hassan II, with deep grief and regret. By his death, the people of Morocco have lost a noble monarch and a world statesman," he said in a statement issued in Accra.

It said: "the people of Ghana remember the late King Hassan for his role in the development of close relations between Ghana and Morocco in the early years of Ghana's independence".

"The solidarity and friendship between the King and our first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, enabled our two countries to play a leading role in the decolonization of Africa and in the creation of the Organisation of African Unity.

"His death after a reign of 38 years is, therefore, a great loss to Africa," the message read. President Rawlings also used the occasion to congratulate His Majesty Mohammed VI, the new King of Morocco, on his accession to the throne and to "wish you good health and God's guidance in your new responsibilities".

"It is my hope that under your enlightened rule the relations between our two countries will be strengthened to the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples," he added.