The Ivorian President, Laurent Koudou Gbagbo, arrived in Accra yesterday, for a two-day visit to the country, it aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire.
The visit of the Ivorian President, which is to reciprocate an earlier one by President John Evans Atta Mills to that country, is also aimed at bringing the two countries much closer to support efforts at regional integration.
As part of the visit, the two presidents would hold bilateral talks today in which peace in Cote d’Ivoire described as critical to security in the sub-region, and trade between both countries are expected to top the agenda. Accompanied by about 40 ministers and business executives, President Gbagbo touched down at exactly 11:25am at the Kotoka International Airport, where Ministers of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, security heads and a large number of Ivorian nationals had gathered to welcome him.
Met on arrival by President Mills, President Gbagbo inspected the of Guard of Honour mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces amidst a 21 gun salute. During a short chat at the Presidential Lounge, President Gbagbo, who was beaming with smiles, told his Ghanaian counterpart that he was glad to be in Ghana and thanked President Mills for his readiness to receive him, saying it demonstrates the good relations between the two countries.
President Mills, for his part, commended the Ivorian leader for the visit, and expressed optimism that its outcome would be beneficial to the entire sub-region. After responding to cheers from the members of the Ivorian community, the two leaders departed the airport for a private meeting ahead of today’s bilateral talks at the Castle.
President Gbagbo, who also interacted with the Ivorian community in Ghana at the Ivorian Ambassador’s Residence, later in the afternoon, visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum where he laid wreaths on the tombs of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s First President, and his wife, Fathia.
Accompanied by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, President Gbagbo lauded the exploits of Dr. Nkrumah in the struggle for African liberation and unity, saying the works of the first President should serve as a source of encouragement to the present generation in Africa.
Source: The Ghanaian Times
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