Concerted efforts needed to prevent conflicts in West Africa - JAK

Accra, May 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday stressed the need for concerted efforts among security agencies of West African States to prevent conflicts and secure peace and stability for socio-economic development.

He made the call when a 19-member delegation from the Nigeria War College on a week's visit to Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

President Kufuor said such regular visits and interaction among the security forces from the various countries were necessary to enable them to share information.

He said such interactions would form the basis to put in place strategies to combat conflicts and instability to ensure peace and security within the Sub-Region.

Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, said the College was the highest military institution within the Sub-Region and had undertaken many exchange programmes with their Ghanaian counterparts and worked harmoniously with each other.

Air Commodore Augustine U. Agbonlahor, Leader of the delegation, said the visit was to assist the College in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure peace, security and stability in Nigeria and the Sub-Region.

He commended the cordial relationship that had existed between the security forces within the Sub-Region, especially on peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The delegation had earlier visited Mali.