Exercise patience with the Government - Kufuor

Accra, June 17, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor Thursday appealed to Ghanaians to exercise patience with the Government following the announcement of debt cancellation by the leading economies in the world. He said the cut-off date for the debt cancellation was yet to be given, and when this was done, it would help the Government to release more money for development projects and to create more jobs. "People will fell the impact of this relief in their pockets when more jobs are created and poverty is reduced", said President Kufuor.

President Kufuor was speaking to journalists at the Kotoka Airport, on his return from Washington, United States of America, where he conferred with US President George Bush on issues of peace and security, HIV/AIDS and debt relief for Africa as well as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Other Heads of States who were invited to the meeting included the Presidents of Botswana, Namibia, Niger and Mozambique.

Nana Akuffo Addo, Foreign Affairs Minister, who accompanied President Kufuor to the meeting, gave highlights of the meeting describing it as historic and hopeful, adding that, Ghana's democratic reforms and respect for rule of law was paying off. He said President Kufuor was quite emphatic on the issue of debt relief, which he stated should be across board to all Third World countries without conditions, stressing that it would give the countries some breather to accelerate development.

According to Nana Akuffo Addo, President Kufuor urged the US Government to help accelerate the disbursement of the MCA, which was reiterated when President Kufuor held separate meetings with the US Secretary of State, Condoleza Rice, and the Chief Executive Officer of the MCA. President Kufuor also met officials of Exim Bank and promised to resume playing more pragmatic roles in Ghana's economic development. President Kufuor on his way home passed through the United Kingdom, where he met Government officials on the GB summit. President Kufuor is expected to attend.

At the Airport to meet the President was Vice President Aliu Mahama, Ministers Of State, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Major General J B Danquah, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Acheampong and supporters of the New Patriotic Party.