Malian President Konare arrives

Accra (Greater Accra) 23 March '99

President Alpha Omar Konare of Mali arrived in Accra on Tuesday for a one-day official visit. He was accompanied by a five-member delegation including Mr Mohammed Salia Sokona, Minister of Defence, Mr Mohammed Askie, Minister of Communications and Mr Moussa Koulibaly, in charge of Diplomatic Affairs. President Rawlings, Vice-President John Atta Mills and Ministers of State met the Malian delegation on arrival. Also at the airport were the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Peter Nanfuri, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen Ben Akafia, Members of the African Diplomatic Corps and a section of the Malian community. The two Presidents took the national salute after which the Malian leader inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Ghana Air Force made up of three officers and 96 men with a 21-gun salute booming at the background. The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks as well as discuss issues affecting the sub-region and the continent as a whole.