Accra (Greater Accra) 21 June '99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Monday granted audience to Muhammed Salerm Ould Salek, Foreign Minister of the Sahraoui Arab Democratic Republic and assured him of Ghana's continued support to see the end of the territory's struggle for freedom.

Prof Mills said it is Ghana's belief that the people of Western Sahara should be given the right to self-determination and expressed the hope that the scheduled referendum to decide their future would be free and fair.

Foreign Minister Salek called at the Castle with a message from President Abdul Aziz, inviting President Jerry John Rawlings to visit the territory, which has been struggling for self-rule from Morocco over the years.

He told the Vice-President that the people of Western Sahara have followed with keen interest Ghana's leading role to see development and stability in Africa and would be glad to receive President Rawlings.

"President Rawlings has something very special for the Sahraoui people," he said, adding that his visit would mean a lot to them.

The Organisation of African Unity will hold a summit next month in Algeria to discuss, among other things, UN's plan to conduct a referendum on whether the territory, with a population of about 220,000, should become independent or remain part of Morocco which controls the main urban areas.

Mr Salek spoke about impediments in the plans for the referendum, which he said, were being caused by Morocco, backed by France.

He called for Ghana's intervention to lobby other countries like Nigeria to support the territory's cause.

Mr James Victor Gbeho, Ghana's Foreign Minister, said government was aware of the situation in the Western Sahara and would be ready to assess the latest developments to make informed decision as to what assistance it could offer the people.