Defence Minister Visits Lome

The Minister for Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor at the invitation of his Togolese counterpart Brig-Gen Assani Tidjani, led a 5-man official delegation to attend the 35th anniversary celebration of the Togo Liberation Day in Lome, Togo on 13th January 2002.

The parade which involved a march past by the military and other security as well as civil organisations and numerous cultural troupes, was witnessed by a large audience, including Ministers of State, Ambassadors and government officials. President Gnassingbe Eyadema, president of Togo, took the salute. The Ghana Armed Forces Central Band and a contingent of troops took part in the march past.

Later Dr. Addo-Kufuor met the Togolese President at his official residence. He extended the fraternal greetings of President J.A Kufuor and the government and people of Ghana to President Eyadema, the government and people of Togo. Dr. Addo-Kufuor noted with satisfaction the prevailing military cooperation between the two countries and said everything possible will be done to maintain it. At the end of the meeting, President Eyadema sent a special message to be delivered to President Kufuor.

Addressing the press a Lome before his departure for home, Dr. Addo-Kufuor said Ghana and Togo have a common heritage and therefore should co-exist peacefully.

As part of the visit, the minister also addressed the staff of the Ghana Embassy in Togo and congratulated them for contributing to the current good relations between the two countries.

Other members of the delegation were the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. C.B. Yaache, Mr. F.O. Mpare, Chief Director, Ministry of Defence, Lt. Col. Obed Akwa, Military Assistant to the Defence Minister and Capt. J. Twum, ADC to the Army Commander.