Veep commends ties with Qatar

DOHA: Ghanaian Vice-President Haj Ali Mohammed has commended his country?s existing relations with Qatar, saying his current visit to the state would help bolster bilateral ties and move them forward in the interest of the two countries. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Ghanaian Vice-President expressed happiness and utmost satisfaction over his meeting earlier yesterday with the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the talks he held with the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Heir Apparent also hosted a luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan yesterday in honour of Haj Ali Mohamed and his accompanying delegation.

?The outcome of these meetings, which covered ways of developing Doha-Accra ties as well as other issues of mutual concern, were positive and beneficial to both sides,? Haj Ali Mohamed said.

?We in Ghana are looking forward that the Emir would visit our country to help enhance joint efforts to achieve closer ties between our two countries,? he added.

On the situation in the Palestinian territories and Iraq, the Ghanaian Vice-President expressed the hope that ?comprehensive and just peace would be achieved in the Middle East? stressing that his country supports the implementation of UN resolutions regarding the Palestinian question and also supports the idea of establishing two states (Palestine and Israel) co-existing side by side in peace.

On Iraq, he said the only solution to what is going on there is to speed up the process of transferring power to the Iraqi people in order to run their country and their affairs by themselves.

About his visit to the Education City, the Ghanaian guest said, ?It is a pioneering and ambitious educational scheme that reflects the keenness of Qatar?s leadership on developing education and all branches of learning.?

He described the Education City as a ?dream that every country hopes to set up in its territory... and Qatar should take pride in achieving that objective?.

Dr Saif Ali Al Hajari, Deputy Board Chairman of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), briefed the Ghanaian Vice-President on the activities of the QF since its inception in 1995 and the Education City, its vision, philosophy, educational policies and major sections.

The Ghanaian leader toured the Education City?s Virginia Commonwealth Faculty of Arts and Design and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. He expressed appreciation of what he saw in the Education City.

Earlier, Haj Ali Mohamed held official talks at the Emiri Diwan with the Heir Apparent.

The talks were attended by H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Jassem Al Thani, the Minister of Economy and Trade, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan Hassan Al Dousari, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture who is also head of the mission of honour accompanying the Ghanaian leader, and H E Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Kholeifi, the Director of the Asian and African Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry.

The two sides reviewed ties of cooperation between the two countries and means of enhancing them. A host of other issues of mutual concern were also taken up.