Ghana, Benin Pledge To Strengthen Economic & Political Ties

The President of Benin and Chairman of the Africa Union (AU), Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni, has arrived in Accra for a one day working visit. The visit is at the behest of the Ghanaian President John Evans Mills to discuss issues of interest to both countries. The two Presidents are among four other African leaders who have been invited by President Obama to this year�s G8 summit in the U.S. Welcoming the president to Ghana at the VVIP lounge of the Kotoka Airport, President Mills said, it is time for Africans to unite and pursue initiatives which will develop and transform the lives of the people. He said the two countries have a lot of things in common, thus his visit in Ghana will afford the two nations to discuss issues of interest. President Mills thanked his colleague for honouring the invitation and indicated that the deliberations will be used to discuss pertinent issues between the two West African nations. Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni who is in Ghana for the first time said, his visit will strengthen both economic and political ties between the two nations, saying the time is ripe for Africa to initiative reforms which will transform the continent. �It is time for us to exchange [ideas] on issues which concern our bilateral cooperation. It is time now to settle and strengthen our economic and political partnership between Ghana and Benin.� He thanked President Mills for being the first president on the continent to back his nomination as head of the AU, adding that with such cooperation the continent can solidify its position in the world. Some Beninoise students who are also resident in Ghana appealed to President Yayi Boni to provide them with decent accommodation to make their stay in Ghana a memorable one. Dr. Yayi Boni as part of his programme laid a wreath and toured the Kwame Nkrumah Mauseleoum, He will also participate in a technical meeting and close door meetings with President Mills at the Accra International Conference Centre.