Four envoys present credentials

Envoys from Sierra Leone, South Korea, the Holy See, Japan and the United Kingdom on Tuesday presented their letters of credence to President Jerry John Rawlings at the State House.

The new ambassadors are Mr Chung Eiu-Min of South Korea, Mr Hiromu Nitta of Japan and Archbishop George Kocherry of the Holy See. The rest are the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Mr Allie Esa Bangura, and Mr Roderick Allen Pullen of the United Kingdom.

The envoys pledged to expand their already cordial relations between their countries and Ghana and to explore more areas of co-operation. Japanese Ambassador, Nitta said his country would continue to assist Ghana to overcome its problems brought about by both internal and external factors.

"I wish to renew the willingness of my government to extend every possible co-operation in the area of socio-economic development of Ghana," he said.

He said Ghana has, in the past, not only demonstrated the potentials to achieve the impressive economic growth but also the ability to implement structural reforms and development programmes.

The British envoy Pullen said his country would continue to assist Ghana's private sector as the government considers it essential for economic growth. "Many British companies show a keen interest in further strengthening trade and investment links with their Ghanaian counterparts.

We believe this to be beneficial to both our countries and we shall do all that we can to support and assist them in promoting further co-operation." Pullen said British technical and development assistance to Ghana this year will be in excess of 50 million pounds.

This is focussed in particular on the health and education sectors in partnership with the relevant ministries. The Sierra Leonean High Commissioner took the opportunity to express condolences to the bereaved families of Ghanaian soldiers who lost their lives on the various missions in Sierra Leone.

Bangura said Sierra Leone was fascinated by the level of development that had taken place in Ghana within the past two decades. "It is our desire to emulate Ghana," he added.

Mr Eui-Min Chung, Republic of Korea's Ambassador, commented on the impending general elections in the country on December 7 and said a fair and transparent election in Ghana would place it even more firmly on the path of democratic consolidation.

"The election will offer a proud model for the African continent and the world." He said Korea has been proud of its economic co-operation with Ghana since diplomatic relations were established in 1978.

"This, is evidenced by the opening of a Ghana Mission in my country recently and Korea's pledge of Economic Development Co-operation Fund loan of 38,2000,000 dollars for the construction of the Buipe-Bolgatanga Petroleum Pipeline Project."

Receiving the credentials of the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner President Rawlings remarked that the crisis in that country has now extended beyond its borders and is threatening to engulf Liberia and Guinea.

This development has the potential to destabilise the entire sub-region and must be contained immediately. "It is for this reason that Ghana has persistently called for the strengthening of UNAMSIL (UN Peacekeeping Force In Sierra Leone) and for it to work closely with the government of Sierra Leone and ECOWAS."

But for the force to be effective, it must operate at its maximum strength of 13,000 and appropriately equipped, he said. He welcomed the recent announcement by Ukraine and Slovakia to offer logistic support to UNAMSIL.

Rawlings was grateful to donor countries such as the UK, Japan and Korea for their support for Ghana and expressed the hope that they would continue to do so.