Accra, July 25, GNA - The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is to host the first regional conference of leaders of political parties to establish a regular platform, which would continually appreciate the values of multi-party democracy.

A press statement issued by IEA said the conference, which would be held in collaboration with the Netherlands Institute for Multiply Democracy (NIMD), would bring together leaders of both opposition and ruling political parties of eight West African countries to exchange experiences and deliberate on challenges confronting parties in building and consolidating democracy.

Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo would participate in the conference under the theme: =93Political Parties and Democratic Consolidation in West Africa.=94 It would also seek to integrate individual country perspectives for achieving true and sustainable democratic governance in the Sub-Region. The conference, which would be addressed by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; would discuss topics such as; 93Imperatives for Improving the Quality of Multiply Democracy=94; 93The Link Between Democracy and Development=94 and 93Political Parties and Political Stability in the Sub-Region=94. 25 J