Liberia Government (Monrovia)
11 September 2009
Monrovia — The Governments of Benin and Liberia have signed an agreement geared towards strengthening bilateral cooperation. The agreement was signed Thursday in Cotonou at the end of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's two-day state visit to Benin.
The agreement, according to an Executive Mansion release, centered on fostering cooperation in the areas of culture and arts, higher education, professional training and scientific research. It was signed at the Cardinal Garantin International Airport in Cotonou by Liberian Foreign Minister Olubanke King-Akerele and her Beninois counterpart.
Earlier, President Johnson Sirleaf and the Beninois leader, Thomas Boni Yayi, toured the Center Songhai Agriculture Project in Porto Novo, the country's second city. Center Songhai, which was established 20 years ago, is a pacesetter in agricultural research and appropriate technology. It is a major agricultural think-tank for citizens of Benin and Africa.
The Liberian leader described her tour of the Center as a wonderful eye-opener, promising to invite the project's founder to Liberia, to share experiences on how a similar program could be established. She commended President Yayi for the development achieved since his election three years ago.
Prior to her departure, the President also met with members of the Liberian community in Cotonou. The Liberian President admonished the citizens to be law-abiding and urged them to learn a trade which would serve them in the future. The President reminded Liberians in Benin to consider returning home to form part of the national rebuilding process.
A spokesman for the Liberian community, Dr. John Kromah, praised the President for the development she has brought to the country since her ascendancy in 2006. He pledged his group's support to the President's efforts at achieving national development.
President Johnson Sirleaf and entourage returned to Liberia Thursday night, ending a successful two-day visit to Benin.
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