Army Vice Chief to Visit Ghana

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) Seeking to further consolidate existing warm and friendly bilateral relations, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Deepak Kapoor will leave here next week on an official visit to Ghana -- the first ever visit of a high-ranking Indian Army official to the west African nation.

The three-day visit -- commencing April 2 -- also assumes special significance in the light of Ghana celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its independence in 2007, said an official spokesperson here today.

Indo-Ghanaian relations have traditionally been warm and friendly. Similarities in colonial struggle, ethnic diversity and geo-political situations have created affinity and mutual goodwill between the two countries.

Both the countries have worked together on issues of common interest such as restructuring of the UN, fight against apartheid, decolonisation, disarmament, human rights, refugee problems, international peace, environment and multilateral economic issues affecting developing countries.

Both countries are also actively contributing in United Nations Peace Keeping missions. A large number of Ghanaian Armed Forces personnel have been trained at Indian training establishments.

During the visit, the Army Vice Chief will be meeting President John Agyekum Kufuor, Defence Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Chief of Defence Staff Maj Gen Joseph Boateng Danquah and Chief of the Army Staff Major General SA Odotei besides other dignitaries of Ghana.

Lt Gen Kapoor would also be visiting the Kofi Anan International Peace Keeping Training Centre, the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and other important establishments of the Ghana Defence Forces.

The Army Vice Chief would also be discussing issues of mutual concern including cooperation in the field of training, ''share and gain'' from Peace Keeping experiences and cooperation in the field of other areas of mutual interest, the spokesperson said. UNI