Ghana-Namibia to re-activate Joint Commission for Co-operation

Accra, June 27, GNA- Ghana and Namibia on Sunday decided to re-activate their Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation that has been dormant for 10 years.

Both countries have therefore, decided to schedule the next Session of the Commission in Ghana to discuss some specific areas of co-operation soon.

The decision was made in a 17-point Communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the three-day state visit to Ghana by the Namibian President Dr Sam Nujoma to explore areas of economic cooperation and hold bilateral talks with President John Agyekum Kufuor

The focus of his visit was to promote collaboration in the development of natural and human resources and strengthen intra-African trade and commerce.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's Foreign Minister and his Namibian counterpart Mr Marco Hausiku jointly signed the Communiqu=E9. It said the areas to be discussed would include, education especially in teacher training at secondary and tertiary levels and human resources upgrading for Namibians in Ghanaian institutions.

Others are, health, particularly as regards the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic and the training of Namibians in Ghanaian health training facilities.

The rest are security operation, whereby both countries would engage their security agencies in exchange and familiarisation programmes, agriculture with specific reference to poultry feed production, ostrich breeding and fisheries, including aquaculture.

Other areas to be discussed at the renewed session would include trade, industry and investments in an effort to strengthen intra-African trade and co-operation.

This would include promotion of twinning arrangements between the Port of Tema and the Port of Walvis Bay, tourism and environment, mines and energy, information and broadcasting and youth and sports.

The other areas would be in lands, re-settlement and rehabilitation, community development and science and technology.

The Communiqu=E9 said both Presidents reviewed the situation on the Continent and pledged their unflinching support for the African Union (AU) and agreed to work together for the acceleration of the process of economic and political integration of the Continent as envisioned by the NEPAD Initiative.

It said both Presidents therefore, made an appeal to all African countries for an effective co-ordination of efforts in the implementation of the priority programmes of NEPAD.

The Communiqu=E9 said both Presidents noted the progress made in good governance on the Continent and stressed the need for African countries to continue with their efforts at democratisation and economic reform in order to promote the socio-economic and cultural development of their peoples.

During the visit, President Nujoma was honoured with the highest national award of the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana. President Kufuor decorated President Nujoma, with the sash at a State banquet held in his honour, while Nana Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, read the citation.

The Namibian President on Saturday paid a memorable and emotional visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra. President Nujoma first visited Ghana in April 1960 to attend the All African Peoples' Conference organized by Ghana's First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for African leaders. Ghana and Namibia pledge commitment to peace and stability in Africa Accra, June 27, GNA - Ghana and Namibia on Sunday pledged commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in Africa. They therefore, called for rapid resolution of all conflicts on the Continent, especially those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sudan.

The commitment was made in a 17-point Communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the three-day state visit to Ghana by the Namibian President Dr Sam Nujoma to explore areas of economic cooperation and hold bilateral talks with President John Agyekum Kufuor

The focus of his visit was to promote collaboration in the development of natural and human resources and strengthen intra-African trade and commerce.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's Foreign Minister and his Namibian counterpart, Mr Marco Hausiku, jointly signed the Communiqu=E9. It said both Presidents expressed serious concern about the phenomena of mercenarism in Africa and global terrorism and emphasized the need for all African countries and the world to adhere to and enforce existing international treaties on the two issues.

They reiterated their respect for the principles, objectives and lofty ideas of the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth and the African Union, all of which constitute solid platforms for the consolidation of peace, solidarity and co-operation amongst nations and peoples in the world.

The Communiqu=E9 said both Presidents welcomed the efforts at the stabilization of the conflict situations in West Africa by ECOWAS, notably, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

They expressed the hope that the remaining tensions in other parts of the West African Sub-Region would soon be brought under control.

The Communiqu=E9 said Ghana accepted Namibia's proposal for the training of Namibian peacekeeping personnel and administrative staff at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra as both countries continued to contribute to UN peace operations, particularly in conflict areas in Africa.