Ahmadinejad in Ghana

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Accra on Tuesday afternoon on his last leg of his tour of West African countries of Benin, Niger and Ghana. He was greeted at Accra airport by the Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.

Photo credit: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reviewing the honor guard after his arrival in Ghanaian capital of Accra on Tuesday afternoon 16 April. (IRNA/Mohammad Babai)

Ahmadinejad Leaves Benin for Niger

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrapped up his daylong visit to Western African country of Benin, where he received the country’s highest civilian decoration, and headed to Niger. There he is expected to discuss direct import of uranium with the country’s officials. Niger is the world’s fourth largest producer of uranium, with the French nuclear group Areva having had a monopoly of production and sales of its uranium. (Reuters, 15 April)

Iran does have its own uranium mines, but could soon exhaust the reserves crucial to its nuclear program. After Niger, Ahmadinejad will visit Ghana before heading home to serve out his last two months as president. 

Photo credit: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after receiving Benin’s highest decoration from President Yayi Boni. Also in picture is presidential hopeful Esfandiar Rahim Mashie, second from left. Porto Novo, People’s Democratic Republic of Benin; 14 April 2013 (Mohammad Babaie/IRNA)

Ahmadinejad Leaves for Africa

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today embarked on a tour of the African states of Benin, Ghana and Niger. Oil export agreements appear to be on top of Ahmadinejad’s agenda.  

“During our trip to Benin, Niger and Ghana, we will try to not only consolidate ties, but also take long strides in boosting comprehensive ties,” Ahmadinejad said before leaving Tehran. “Different memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, commerce, culture, tourism and health will be signed.” (IRNA, 14 April)

“Education, agriculture and, above all, energy” would be on the agenda, said Benin Foreign Minister Nassirou Arifari Bako. (AFP, 14 April)

In Niger, Ahmadinejad is also expected to discuss possibilities of importing uranium from that country, world’s fourth largest producer of uranium.

The Iranian president will be back in Tehran in time to participate in a political rally at Azadi Stadium. Iran will hold its presidential election on 14 June to elect a successor to Ahmadinejad. The Azadi Stadium rally was postponed to Thursday to accommodate Ahmadinajad’s African visits.

Photo credit: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leaving Tehran’s Mehrabad airport for a visit to 3 West African countries. 14 April 2013 (IRNA).