President Mbasogo arrives in Ghana on a state visit

Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - President Theodoro Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea arrived in Accra late Tuesday afternoon on a four-day state visit to Ghana.

Accompanied by a 66-member delegation, President Mbasogo's visit, at the invitation of President John Evans Atta Mills, is to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries, which has inched up in recent years and reciprocate a similar visit by the Ghanaian leader to the oil rich country last May.

President Mbasogo was met on arrival by President Mills, some Ministers of State, the Inspector General of Police, Paul Quaye, some Senior Military Officers and Service Commanders.

The two leaders took the national salute, amidst a 21-gun salute and the playing of the national anthems of the two nations. Also at the airport were nationals of Equatorial Guinea, as well as, a performance of traditional music and drumming.

With Ghana's discovery of oil, the two nations are looking forward for joint-cooperation in energy, agriculture, fishing, marine transportation, gender and equity. The two countries would hold bilateral talks and share ideas on energy and agricultural, as well as the development of electricity and issues on women and gender. During President Mills' last visit to Equatorial Guinea, President Mbasogo promised that Equatorial Guinea would deliver two million barrels of crude oil to Ghana annually, of which the first consignment arrived last week. An itinerary drawn for the visit include, a visit to SIDALCO, a fertiliser manufacturing company on the Accra-Tema motorway, with franchise to supply fertilizer to African countries, and a visit to the Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo in the Eastern Region. President Mbasogo departs on Friday, September 10. 7 Sept. 10