Ghana and its Sahelian neighbour, Mali, go way back to the early days of sub-Saharan independence. Not long after Ghana's independence in March 1957, others also followed suit in rapid succession. These included countries like Nigeria, Guinea and Mali. Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah together with Guinea's Sekou Toure and Mali's Modibo Keita came together to forge one of the earlier attempts at sub-regional integration on a platform of Ghana-Guinea-Mali. This platform went into abeyance after the coups that came to truncate many such initiatives on the continent of Africa.

This past Tuesday Ghana and Mali pledged to open a new chapter in their relations through the deepening of trade and economic co-operation. This follows Ghana's President Kufuor's state visit to Mali on Monday where he and his host, Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure held bilateral talks.

The Permanent Joint Commission established by the two countries some years back, is to be reviewed and replaced by a new framework that would enhance greater trade between them. President John Agyekum Kufuor, addressing a joint press conference held at the Koulouba Presidential Palace with Mr. Amadou Toumani Toure, after their bilateral talks, said Ghana was determined to push with its vigorous infrastructure development to make it easier for Mali - a landlocked country - and others, including Burkina Faso and Niger to have easier access to its sea ports.

"We share a common vision to come together and move together. The possibilities are real. We want to continue from where the late President Kwame Nkrumah and President Modibo Keita left off."

The two nations have had diplomatic relations since 1960 but Ghana, for economic reasons, closed down its Mission in Mali alongside other countries in the early 1980s. It was however, re-opened in 2002 when the NPP came to power.

President Kufuor noted that the peoples of Ghana and Mali throughout history have had active interactions through trade and business, something that would have to continue.

The host, President Toure spoke of problems they were facing with illegal migrants crossing from West Africa through the Sahara desert to Europe and said they were talking with the European Union on how best to stop the flow these illegal migrants.

President Kufuor, accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and other senior government officials were taken round a number of places of interest by their Malian hosts; these included the Askia Tomb in Gao, a major historical landmark in Mali.

Built in 1495, this pyramid, portraying the unique architecture of the ancient Songhor Empire, houses the mortal remains of Emperor Askia Mohammed, who was said to have brought the stones used for the laying of its foundation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Attached to the pyramid is a sprawling mosque measuring 60 metres by 30 metres and built purely of mud.

President Kufuor and his delegation were also at Mopti, the commercial city of Mali. Mali, with a population of about 12 million has a growth rate of 2.4 per cent and is one of the world's poorest countries, rated 174 out of 177 countries in the year 2004, using the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human and Development Index. It's per capita income is 370 dollars and it is the leading producer of cotton in West Africa.