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16.02.2009 Politics

Liberia Seeks Coop

By Daily Guide
Liberia Seeks Coop
16.02.2009 LISTEN

·Prez Mills welcoming Prez Johnson-Sirleaf The Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has stated that the only way for Africans to meet the challenges of the world economic crisis is foster regional integration and cooperation.

African leaders, she said, no longer have an excuse to run away from the strong urge for regional cooperation and integration as the challenges of the world economic crisis could be devastating.

President Johnson-Sirleaf was interacting with President John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle in Osu when she made a stopover in Accra on her way to Doha, Qatar.

President Johnson-Sirleaf was received on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport by Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

She was accompanied to the Castle by Rudolf von Ballmoos, the Liberian Ambassador to Ghana.

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf is attending the fourth Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) starting from today, February 16 to18.

The EITI aims to strengthen governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractives sector. It sets a global standard for companies to publish what they pay and for governments to disclose what they receive.

The Doha Conference is an opportunity for all stakeholders and supporters - governments, civil society organizations, companies, investors and development organisations - to take stock of the benefits and progress of the EITI, find common solutions for challenges, and chart the next steps for advancing this growing global initiative.

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf said she was at the Castle to interact with President Mills to exchange views on regional integration and cooperation between the two countries.

She acknowledged the contribution Ghana made to the eventual cessation of the Liberian civil war and the subsequent election of the current president.

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf therefore said she was in the country to brief President Mills on the progress in Liberia and the way to consolidate the existing relationship between the two countries.

For his part, President Mills commended the Liberian president for keeping her country together and the progress being made, attributing those achievements to her sterling qualities.

He reminded citizens of both countries of the ancestral bond that had existed between the two countries and the need to forge ahead in their developmental agenda.

President Mills as well recognized the need for regional cooperation and integration as the only way for Africans to meet the challenges that the world economic crisis offer.

At the Castle were Vice President Mahama, Chief of Staff, John Henry Martey Newman, Secretary to the President, J.K Bebaako-Mensah, Mahama Ayariga, Government Spokesperson and other government officials.

By Wisdom Peter Awuku

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