Five new Ambassadors present Letters of Credence

Accra, Feb. 21, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday received the Letters of Credence of five new Ambassadors accredited to Ghana at the Castle, Osu.

They are Mr Miguel Castavo, the Cuban Ambassador, Mr Wi Keyei-Chui, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr Sameer Mahmad Madani A' Aqad, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Mr Balla Mandaw Dia, the Senegalese Ambassador and Mr Igor Hajdusek, the Slovak Ambassador.

The first to call was Mr Castavo and President Kufuor expressed satisfaction with the warm relations existing between Ghana and Cuba. He noted that Cuba has over the years been supportive of the country's health and education sectors and said as countries of the South they should look ahead together.

President Kufuor said he was happy about the reports on the improving health of the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. When the Korean Ambassador took his turn, President Kufuor asked him to help to step up business and trade contacts between the peoples of the two countries.

He recalled his visit to Seoul in November last year, for the African-Korean Summit, where issues of mutual interest were discussed, with a number of Korean Companies expressing the desire to invest in the country and said some were already in the country.

He said Ghana and Korea, which have co-operated over the decades shared common values of global peace, rule of law and respect for human rights and should continue to work together for a peaceful world. Mr Wi announced that a Korean Company was studying the West Africa Power Pool Project for possible participation.

When the Saudi Ambassador called to present his Letters, President Kufuor said Ghana was grateful for the support it has been receiving in many ways from the Kingdom.

He pointed out that Ghanaians treasure the pilgrimage to Mecca and said he was looking forward to a bigger support for the country's Muslims from Saudi Arabia to enable them to make the Hajj.

Mr Hajdusek, the Slovak Ambassador, said his country shared the values of peace, stability and security with Ghana and appealed to President Kufuor to help ensure that these values were placed on the agenda of the AU, ECOWAS and other international bodies.

He spoke of plans to open a trade consul in Accra to help promote trade and business between Ghana and his country.

President Kufuor said he was happy with this and asked the Ambassador to act quickly to make it a reality.

The Senegalese Ambassador praised Ghana for the leadership role it has been playing in Africa and pledged to work to take the relations between the two countries to a new high level.