Ivorian President Gbagbo arrives for Ghana visit

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - President Laurent Koudou Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire arrived in Accra on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Ghana.

President Gbagbo's visit, the first after he attended the inauguration of President John Atta Mils last January, follows President Mills' visit to La Cote d'Ivoire last April.

The two leaders would hold bilateral talks and discuss ways of strengthening the bond between the two neighbouring West African nations. The plane carrying the Ivorian leader touched down at 1130 hours at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

Amidst drumming and dancing, President Mills accompanied by Government officials welcomed the Ivorian President.

Nine-year-old Fati Mohamed of Ragoon School in Accra presented a bouquet to the Ivorian leader to welcome him.

The Ivorian President then took the national salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Walking together with President Mills on the red carpet, President Gbagbo exchanged pleasantries with Ministers of State and members of the Diplomatic Corps, and later waved to a jubilant crowd of the Ivorian community in Ghana who chanted and shouted appellations of the Ivorian President.

President Gbagbo's visit is the fourth presidential visit to Ghana since President Mills' inauguration.

The first three were those of the Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson in January, US President Barack Hussein Obama in July and Togolose President Faure Gnassingbe last August.

The Ivorian leader would be having private lunch and visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.

He would later meet Ivorian citizens resident in Accra at 1700 hours at the residence of the Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire.

On Wednesday, President Gbagbo would meet President Mills at the Castle, Osu, for bilateral talks after which the two Presidents would issue a joint communiqu=E9. There would be a state dinner in honour of the Ivorian leader at the Banquet Hall of the State House. President Gbagbo returns home on Wednesday afternoon.