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26.05.2017 Politics

President Akufo-Addo visits Liberia, Mali

By GNA
President Akufo-Addo visits Liberia, Mali
26.05.2017 LISTEN

Accra, May 26, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Accra on Friday for three-day official working tour to Liberia and Mali.

The President will spend two days in Liberia and leave for Mali on Sunday, May 28, 2017. He is expected back in Ghana on Sunday.

The tour is the second leg of the third phase of his ECOWAS Tour, having visited Sierra Leone two days ago and the endeavour is to enable President Akufo-Addo introduce himself and deepen relations with countries in the ECOWAS region.

It also fits into the President's quest to strengthen bilateral ties with countries in the ECOWAS region and to restate Ghana's commitment to the ECOWAS project.

The President has already toured the three countries bordering Ghana- Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire.

He has also paid working visits to the Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, Cape Verde and would later pay official working visits to Nigeria and Benin.

President Akufo-Addo during the tour rallied 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 said such a move would promote regional cohesion and economic development; 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 said.

The President also pledged to strengthen the ties of co-operation between Ghana and countries in the region. He has also pushed for the ratification of certain bilateral agreements between Ghana and some of the countries visited.

The President was accompanied by the Minister for 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

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