The King of Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana, His Majesty King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Friday, held talks with the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera at the EAC Secretariat headquarters in Arusha.

The King and his eight-man retinue were accompanied by the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, and Arusha Regional Commissioner, Hon. Isidori Shirima.

Addressing the Secretary General and other senior officials of the EAC, King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II implored the Partner States to strengthen the economic bloc as one of the strategies to reduce dependence on the World Bank and other international finance institutions.

"The economic model of the world economic institutions never worked for us. I urge you to implement your plans and bring this unity to fruition," King Tutu II said.

He added that the economies of many African countries were still tied to the West because many African countries produce raw materials without any value addition.

The Ashanti King, who is on an official visit to Tanzania at the invitation of retired President Mkapa since last week, challenged the EAC officials to ensure the bloc delivered to the expectations of its 130 million citizens.

Dr. Sezibera said that he foresaw a prosperous future for the EAC bloc and affirmed the belief that the Community would not suffer disintegration as was the case in 1977.

He added that the region was on course to realize its ultimate destiny of a political union as planned.

Speaking on trade, Amb. Sezibera said intra-regional trade had risen by over 50 per cent in the last five years, an indication of the growing economic links in the bloc of five member countries; Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

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