Accra, May 9, GNA- The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama returned home on Monday evening from Gaboronne, where he opened Ghana-Botswana Expo 2005. The Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr Affram Asiedu; the President of the National House of Chiefs Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, some members of the House and officials of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre accompanied him.

At a news briefing with journalists at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr Asiedu said the four-day exhibition promoted trade and investment between the two countries in particular, and countries in Southern Africa as a whole.

He said the participants were of the view that the time was ripe for more intra African trade.

Alhaji Mahama said Alhaji Mahama met with the Botswana President, Fetus Mogae and asked him to visit Ghana.

The Vice President toured the Botswana Meat Factory where he expressed the need for bilateral cooperation in meat processing, referring particularly to the revamping of the Zuarungu Meat Processing Factory. Mr Asiedu said the Vice President also met with the Ghanaian community and briefed them on the political and economic situation in Ghana. Alhaji Mahama told them that the Government was in full control of the socio-economic situation at home.

A sidelight of the exhibition was an exposition on chieftaincy and democratic governance.