Accra, May 24, GNA - Ghana on Monday assured member States of African Union (AU) of her commitment to the ideals of unity, cooperation and strong bilateral ties to improve the living standards of Africans.

President John Evans Atta Mills, at a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and three other dignitaries in Accra, underscored the need for stronger cooperation to achieve the goals set by the Union. The three were President Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Former President of Zambia, Mr Erasmus Mwecha, Deputy Chairperson of AU and Mr Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs representing Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at the ongoing Colloquium as part of activities marking the Centenary Celebration of the birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President.

The three-day colloquium is being organised jointly by the AU Commission and Government of Ghana from May 22-25, to climax the year-long celebration which began in 2009.

President Wade expressed appreciation to President Mills for the invitation to participate in the celebration, colloquium and the cooperation that had existed between the two countries.

On President Nkrumah, he said: "I followed his political life and ideas that contributed to the building of good relations among Africans. Ghana and Senegal share similar ideas of African unity and progress. We'll strengthen the relationship with you."

President Mills thanked President Wade for accepting the invitation to share in honouring the memory of Ghana's First President. He commended President Wade for his belief in the ideals of Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah and declared; "I have found in you and your country a suitable partner and our countries would be able to share common goals to improve the living standards of our peoples".

Former Zambian President Kaunda commended President Mills for setting the platform to celebrate the ideas and life of Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah. He pledged the support of African Leaders to the cause of Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah.

With regard to Mr Mwecha and Mr Ajumogobia, President Mills said the presence of representatives from Nigeria at the celebration indicated the strong cordial relations between the two countries which had blood ties. They underscored the need to strengthen ties with Ghana. In another development, Madam Barbara Prammer, Speaker of Austrian Parliament, called on President Mills at the Castle, Osu and reassured support of the Socialist International for the ruling National Democratic Congress as it pursued social, economic and social justice in the country. President Mills assured Ghanaians that social poverty was of extreme concern to the Government and was focused to use State resources to improve the lives of the people. 24 May 10