Brazilian President arrives

Accra, April 12, GNA - Brazilian President Inacio Luis Lula Da Silva arrived on Tuesday at the Kotoka International Airport at the head of a 35-member delegation for a two- day visit at the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor. President Kufuor, Vice President Aliu Mahama, Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other high-profile dignitaries met the Brazilian President, who is making his maiden visit to Ghana. The visit, which is part of a four-nation West African tour, is aimed at further deepening the flourishing relations between the two countries. The Brazilian President was presented with a bouquet of flowers by 12-year-old Georgia Oduro from the Air Force Basic Schools. A number of his Ministers, including those of Foreign Affairs; Education; Health; Culture and Promotion of Racial Equality and top Business Executives are accompanying President Du Silva The two Presidents inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by three officers and 98 men from the Fifth Battalion of Infantry under the Command of Major Charles Adu-Bimpong. As they took the national salute, a 21-gun salute boomed in the background. Also among those who met the Brazilian President were Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, including the Dean, Mr Ibrahim Omar and a cultural troupe. Roundup: Brazilian President arrives to boost ties Accra, April 12, GNA - Brazilian President Inacio Luis Lula Da Silva arrived on Tuesday at the Kotoka International Airport at the head of a 35-Member Delegation for a two-day visit to boost ties between Ghana and Brazil.
The visit, which is at the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor, is part of a four-nation West African tour.
President Kufuor, Vice President Aliu Mahama, Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other high profile dignitaries met the Brazilian President, who is making his maiden visit to Ghana. The Brazilian President was presented with a bouquet of flowers by 12-year-old Georgia Oduro from the Air Force Basic Schools.
A number of his Ministers including those of Foreign Affairs, Education, Health, Culture and Promotion of Racial Equality and top Business Executives are accompanying President Da Silva. The two Presidents inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by three officers and 98 men from the Fifth Battalion of Infantry under the Command of Major Charles Adu-Bimpong. As they took the national salute, a 21-gun salute boomed in the background. Also among those who met the Brazilian President were members of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, including the Dean, Mr Ibrahim Omar and a Cultural Troupe. In line with cementing ties between the two countries, Presidents Kufuor and Da Silva would sign a final protocol toward the establishment of a Joint Commission, which would seek to promote economic, cultural and political programmes for their mutual benefit. They would also inaugurate the Ghanaian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. President Kufuor would honour his guest, who has pursued a pragmatic and vigorous African policy since he became President in October 2002, with a state award at a banquet on Tuesday night. Ghana instituted diplomatic relations with Brazil as one of the first African countries to open embassy in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, both countries have cooperated actively at the bilateral and the multi-lateral levels, particularly in organisations such as the United Nations and the Cocoa Producers Alliance. In August 2004, Nana Akufo-Addo led a delegation to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the Second Session of the Ghana-Brazil Joint Commission for Cooperation. The first was held in 1988. In terms of trade, Ghana's imports from her South American ally, which include sugar, was 169 million dollars last year, while her exports, mainly cocoa paste was only 448,738 dollars. The Chamber of Commerce would, therefore, seek to correct this imbalance.
Already, the two countries are pursuing an agreement between Ghana Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation and Brazil's National Oil Company, PETROBRAS, for the supply of 27,000 tonnes of gasoline between July 2004 and June 2005. An interesting feature of President Da Silva's visit is his meeting with the Ga people of Tabon, believed to be of Brazilian origin. Under the Accra Restoration Project, Tabon House, built by Brazilians of African decent some 70 years ago as a trading post, is being rehabilitated as a symbol of Ghana-Brazil cultural relations. Brazil has expressed its interest to support the project. Brazil became independent in 1889 after about three centuries of Portuguese rule. It is described as South America's biggest and most influential country, taking up almost half that Continent. Brazil is also considered one of the world's economic giants and is revered for its football prowess, coffee production and lively music such as samba and bossa nova. It has much of the world's biggest rain forest around the Amazon, whose exploitation has become a major environmental worry. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labour pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Located in the East of Southern America with Columbia, Argentina, Guyana, Bolivia, Surinam and others as neighbours, the country covers a total area of 8.55 million square kilometres. Brasilia is the capital. Its natural resources are mainly bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower and timber. The climate is mostly tropical, but temperate in the south. Though Portuguese is the official language, the 180.6 million people also speak Spanish, English and French. Their main religion is Christianity. Brazil's main exports are manufactured goods, iron ore, coffee, oranges and other agricultural produce. The World Bank in 2003 put the country's per capita income at 2,710 dollars.