Ghana-Mali
to
deepen
economic
co-operation
From
Kwaku
Osei
Bonsu,
GNA
Special
Correspondent,
Bamako
Bamako,
Dec.
12,
GNA
–
Ghana
and
its
Sahelian
neighbour,
Mali,
on
Tuesday
pledged
to
open
a
new
chapter
in
their
relations
through
the
deepening
of
trade
and
economic
co-operation.
The
Permanent
Joint
Commission
established
by
the
two,
some
years
back,
is
therefore
to
be
reviewed
and
replaced
by a
new
framework
that
would
enhance
greater
trade
between
them.
President
John
Agyekum
Kufuor,
addressing
a
joint
press
conference
held
at
the
Koulouba
Presidential
Palace
with
his
Malian
counterpart,
Mr
Amadou
Toumani
Toure,
after
their
bilateral
talks,
said
Ghana
was
determined
to
push
with
its
vigorous
infrastructure
development
to
make
it
easier
for
this
landlocked
country
and
others,
including
Burkina
Faso
and
Niger
to
have
easier
access
to
its
sea
ports.
“We
share
a
common
vision
to
come
together
and
move
together.
The
possibilities
are
real.
We
want
to
continue
from
where
the
late
former
President
Dr
Kwame
Nkrumah
and
President
Modibo
Keita
left
off.”
President
Kufuor,
accompanied
by
the
Foreign
Minister,
Nana
Addo
Dankwah
Akufo-Addo
and
other
senior
Government
Officials
is
in
Mali
for
a
three-day
state
visit.
The
two
nations
have
had
diplomatic
relations
since
1960
but
Ghana,
for
economic
reasons,
closed
down
its
Mission
in
Mali
alongside
other
countries
in
the
early
1980s.
It
was
however,
re-opened
in
2002.
President
Kufuor
noted
that
the
peoples
of
Ghana
and
Mali
throughout
history
have
had
active
interactions
through
trade
and
business,
something
that
would
have
to
continue.
On
his
part,
President
Toure
spoke
of
problems
they
were
facing
with
illegal
migrants
crossing
from
West
Africa
through
the
Sahara
desert
to
Europe
and
said
they
were
talking
with
the
European
Union
on
how
best
to
stop
the
flow
these
illegal
migrants.
President
Kufuor
had
earlier
visited
the
Askia
Tomb
in
Gao,
a
major
historical
landmark
in
Mali.
Built
in
1495,
this
pyramid,
portraying
the
unique
architecture
of
the
ancient
Songhor
Empire,
houses
the
mortal
remains
of
Emperor
Askia
Mohammed,
who
was
said
to
have
brought
the
stones
used
for
the
laying
of
its
foundation
from
the
Kingdom
of
Saudi
Arabia.
Attached
to
the
pyramid
is a
sprawling
mosque
measuring
60
metres
by
30
metres
and
built
purely
of
mud.
President
Kufuor
and
his
delegation
were
also
at
Mopti,
the
Commercial
city
of
Mali.
Mali,
with
a
population
of
about
12
million
has
a
growth
rate
of
2.4
per
cent
and
is
one
of
the
world’s
poorest
countries,
rated
174
out
of
177
countries
in
the
year
2004,
using
the
United
Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP)
Human
and
Development
Index.
It’s
per
capita
income
is
370
dollars
and
it
is
the
leading
producer
of
cotton
in
West
Africa.
GNA
