President Akufo-Addo visits Sierra Leone

Accra, May 24, GNA- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Accra on Wednesday for Freetown, Sierra Leone on a day's visit to that country.

The visit forms part of the President's official working visits to countries of the ECOWAS region.

The President has already toured the three countries bordering Ghana- Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire- in a wider move to introduce himself to and deepen relations with them.

The tour would further the President's quest to strengthen bilateral ties and to restate Ghana's commitment to the ECOWAS project.

He has also paid working visits to Guinea, Senegal, Cape Verde.

He would later pay official working visits to Nigeria, Benin and Liberia.

President Akufo-Addo during the first-leg of his ECOWAS tour, asked his counterparts to strengthen the regional bloc and give true meaning to the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement of Goods and Persons by promoting open borders in the Community.

He explained that such a move would promote regional cohesion and economic development and would boost trade and tourism, and ensure that the peoples of the ECOWAS reap the economic benefits thereof.

'The opening of our borders will give true meaning to the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement of Goods and Persons, and will spur on progress and prosperity for our peoples,' he stated.

The President also pledged to strengthen the ties between Ghana and countries in the region.

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and officials of the Presidency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

GNA

By Ken Sackey, GNA