GHANA'S NEW HEAD OF STATE, BRIGADIER AFRIFA, HAS RETURNED FROM AN ECONOMIC AND GOODWILL VISIT TO MALI. HE CAME TO POWER AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF GENERAL ANKRAH LAST WEDNESDAY (2 APRIL) A DAY AFTER HIS RETURN TO ACCRA FROM THE MISSION.

BRIGADIER AFRIFA WAS WELCOMED ON HIS RETURN BY THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL, MR. HARLLEY. EARLIER, IN MALI, HE HAD SIGNED A TRADE AGREEMENT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MALI GOVERNMENT. THIS HAD BEEN AGREED TO IN ACCRA ON 14 FEBRUARY. THE NEW AGREEMENT INVOLVES THE RE-SCHEDULING OF A LONG-TERM DEBT OWED BY MALI.

THE AGREEMENT MAINLY EFFECTS IMPORT AND EXPORT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, GHANA WILL EXPORT AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDING COCOA, TEXTILES AND GARMENTS, IRON RODS, CEMENT, TIMBER AND TIMBER PRODUCTS. MALI WILL SUPPLY LIVESTOCK, RICE AND EDIBLE OILS.

BRIGADIER AFRIFA SAID IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MADE BY GOVERNMENTS WHO HAD COME TO POWER IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. HE SAID BOTH GOVERNMENTS WERE ANIMATED BY A DESIRE TO WORK FOR PEACE, PROSPERITY AND THE WELFARE OF THEIR PEOPLES.