Ghana, Nigeria spearhead good governance

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Monday after a one-day working visit to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, where he met with his counterpart, Olusegun Obasanjo and other officials on concretising economic co-operation between the two nations.

Briefing reporters on arrival, President Kufuor said his team had fruitful discussions with the Nigerian officials on importing fuel from on terms that would help ease the current difficulties facing the petroleum sector.

On the President's entourage were the Minister of Energy, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah and the Policy Adviser on Energy, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby.

The others were the Foreign Minister, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang and the Chief Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Annan Cato.

President Kufuor, who described the trip as successful, said the two sides also considered proposals to present joint ventures to enhance their economic ties, as well as the general well being of their people.

"There is always a commitment of the backdrop of Africa," he said, adding that they also discussed working towards a united and peaceful continent and strengthening bilateral relations.

President Kufuor made the trip to Abuja on the Nigerian presidential aircraft specially arranged for him by President Obasanjo.

The Nigerian leader also put an additional jet at the disposal of President Kufuor's back-up team, including journalists, during the return trip.

Officials and diplomats said the gesture reflected high levels of not only good neighbourliness between the two but also their resolve to assist each other to move forward.

"It is a manifestation of a new found love between the two countries," Mr Owusu-Agyemang said.

He said the Abuja discussions were open and frank and also explored the possibility of Ghana exporting salt to Nigeria.

The current instability along the Guinea-Liberia border where armed incursions have left in their wake a huge number of refugees also received the attention of the two leaders, Mr Owusu-Agyemang said.

He said the two Presidents expressed their commitment to good governance by giving priority to the interest of their people.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said through the instrumentality of President Kufuor and President Obasanjo, Ghana obtained more relaxed financial terms for the repayment of fuel imports from that country.

He said Ghana was finding it very difficult to honour her financial requirements because the existing terms were very harsh.