Equatorial Guinea to establish Consulate in Ghana

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA - Ghana has agreed to the request of Equatorial Guinea to establish a Consulate in Accra, President John Agyekum Kufuor announced on Monday.

He expressed the hope that the gesture would be reciprocated in a "sincere brotherly manner" to build trust among their peoples, facilitate more economic interaction between the two countries and promote trade.

President Kufuor announced this when proposing the toast at a Banquet in honour of President General Teodoro Obiang N'guema M'basogo of Equatorial Guinea, in Accra.

President M'basogo who arrived in Accra on Monday is on a two-day state visit.

President Kufuor said both countries had also decided to re-activate their Permanent Joint Commission for Co-Operation, which was established in November 2000.

He said this would further strengthen economic, political, technical and scientific co-operation and open new areas for collaboration in the energy resource development and management.

President Kufuor said it would also enable Equatorial Guinea to study the President's Special Initiatives (PSI) to create wealth, especially at the micro level in rural areas to reduce poverty.

"It is our belief that when all our people become rich, our country would become rich. The expertise that Ghana is developing in this area would prove beneficial when applied to your good people," he said. President Kufuor said the visit marked the opening of a new chapter for friendly relationship, politically, economically and socially between the two countries.

"We wish to accept this kind gesture on your part so that any misgivings that Ghanaians have entertained in the recent past would be dispelled", he added.

President M'basogo replying the toast said the many challenges facing Equatorial Guinea in its socio-economic development could be addressed after the bilateral talks with their Ghanaian counterparts as a result of Ghana's democratic development under President Kufuor.

He affirmed the commitment of Equatorial Guinea to the ideals and principles of the African Union (AU) and NEPAD as the channel to establish peace, stability and co-operation among African nations. President M'basogo stressed the need for Africans to find solutions to the conflicts on the Continent and commended President Kufuor for the able manner he had steered affairs of ECOWAS to restore peace and stability in the Sub-Region.

President M'basogo who witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Liberia in Accra said such efforts were laudable for the Sub-Regional groupings in Africa and the international community to restore and maintain peace and stability.

He said his visit marked an era of greater solidarity and co-operation between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Among those present were Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and the first lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor.

President M'basogo would tour the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) at Tema, on Tuesday, August 19.