Freetown — President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso has reaffirmed his government's commitment to further strengthen ties between his country and Sierra Leone.

He gave this assurance recently when Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Ghana, also accredited to Burkina Faso, His Excellency Osman Yansaneh presented his letter of credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Burkinabe leader at the Presidential Palace in Ouagadougou.

"As small countries, individually, we could achieve little but if we work together each country could become stronger to face the challenges of poverty and under-development that plague them," Campaore told the Sierra Leonean envoy.

President Campaore also expressed willingness to support Ambassador Yansaneh during his tour of duty.

"I will be available at all times to the Ambassador to discuss matters of mutual concern," he avowed.

While conveying fraternal good wishes from President Koroma and the people of his country Ambassador Yansaneh expressed hope that the fraternal relations which exist between the two nations and peoples "will be further enhanced by the reaffirmation of diplomatic ties." He catalogued the achievements of the Burkinabe leader in peace building in the sub region and his various attempts at promoting the art and culture of the African continent in the areas of artisinal development and film making.

The Ambassador who was greeted with military honour and fanfare on his arrival at the Presidential Palace was accompanied by Mrs. Margaret Jah-Matturi, a Counsellor in the Sierra Leone High Commission in Ghana and both have returned to the Accra capital.

Burkina Faso, it must be recalled, was among the first three countries President Koroma visited after he was elected last year.