Ghana, Iran to deepen ties in education and agric.

Accra, June 22, GNA - Ghana and Iran are holding discussions to deep= en bilateral relations in sectors such as education and agriculture. Mr Mohammed Soleyman, Iranian Ambassador to Ghana on Wednesday held a meeting with Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to discuss the way forward.

Mr Soleyman is on a month's familiarization tour of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) nationwide. He said Iran was seeking to partner Ghana to improve education and agriculture in both countries.

Mr Soleyman announced that the Iranian Government was planning to cultivate rice in Ghana because of its high demand, and expressed gratitude to the Government for the support to Iranian businessmen and women in the country. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said agriculture is the mainstay of Ghana's economy, and for its enhancement there was the need to collaborate for more development in rice production.

He said government had encouraged the youth to engage in agricultural activities for personal development, hence the establishment of the youth in agriculture.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo called for more support in the provision of mechanised inputs to make farming easier for local farmers, adding 93The usage of loc= al farming inputs could not increase production."

In addition, he said, both countries could contribute in the tourism sector towards the development of their citizenry. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo appealed to the Iranian Ambassador to woo more investors into Ghana to establish companies to develop agriculture and produce agricultural inputs.