Ghana on Bush's African Nation's List

The 35 African nations invited by President Bush to a trade and economic forum in Washington Oct. 4-5:

Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia.

Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda.

Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Bush Plans African Trade Summit

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush invited leaders from 35 African nations to Washington this fall for a trade and economic forum focused on building stronger ties. ``We Americans want to be more than spectators of Africa's progress,'' he said.

Bush gathered politicians, African diplomats and one athlete - NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon - in the Rose Garden on Wednesday to announce the summit, to be held Oct. 4-5. Bush said he hopes to find ways to help promote stability and growth in sub-Saharan nations, particularly those that are choosing democracy.

``Democracy is emerging in countries like Ghana and Nigeria, and showing enduring strength in Senegal, Botswana and South Africa,'' Bush said. ``Free market reforms are delivering real benefits to people in places like Mozambique and Madagascar and Mali. ... We want to encourage a brighter future through policies that nurture and support freedom and democratic reform.''

Secretary of State Colin Powell will preside over the October forum with his counterparts from the Treasury and Commerce departments, the U.S. trade representative and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Powell departs next week on a tour of four African nations.

The October gathering is required under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act signed last year by President Clinton. The act provides trade benefits to businesses, manufacturers and farmers in sub-Saharan nations that have market-based economies and policies on reducing poverty, fighting corruption, protecting workers rights and fostering human rights.

The invited nations have met those requirements, White House aides said. There are 48 sub-Saharan African countries.

Julia Payne, a spokeswoman for Clinton, who was traveling abroad Wednesday, said, ``Anything that continues to put Africa and its people as a priority for the United States is pleasing to him.''

Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla., who recently led a congressional delegation to Africa on a trade visit, said the meeting will demonstrate that Africa is evolving into more of a global player politically. ``Today, we are taking one step closer to a more prosperous and free Africa,'' Watts said.

Olajuwon, a native of Nigeria, said implementation of the trade pact is the key.

``You can see the president and his team are committed. The Africans are also looking forward to making it work,'' Olajuwon said.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a sponsor of the Africa bill, said that success is conditioned on sustained high-level attention from the Bush administration.

``Legislation by itself just won't work. ... People have to know we are serious,'' Rangel said. ``When General Powell visits embassies as secretary of state, people snap to it. When he visits our ambassadors and talks about this, they know that America means business.''

Senegalese Ambassador Mamadou M. Seck, designated representative of the African diplomatic corps, said African countries are eager to build trade with U.S. businesses, who currently serve only 7 percent of the African market, which has 800 million consumers.

``We Africans have to put our house in order,'' Seck said. ``Our private sector is still weak. ... We want more exchange with the Americans. We invite the American businesses on board to give us more freedom of choice. At the same time, Mr. President, of course we want a fair price for our products.''

In submitting his trade agenda to Congress last week, Bush, an ardent free trade supporter, said the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ``holds real promise for helping to integrate African economies into the world trading system. The Congress should consider whether more progress can be made along these lines.''

Powell departs on Tuesday for a six-day tour through Mali, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. He has said the administration's priorities for Africa are to provide relief to HIV-AIDs victims, open markets to African products, give people hope, and work with democratic countries and not with those that exploit their own people.