Iranian Ambassador bids farewell

Accra, Aug. 15, GNA - Vice President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday said there is need for Ghana and Iran to enhance their relations to make them benefit their peoples. He said Ghana and Iran in the spirit of South-South co-operation need to establish and enhance trade ties and encourage their private sectors to exchange experiences for development. "If we in the South can take care of our own destiny, we can shoulder our responsibilities in a more mature way." Prof. Mills said this when Mr Kiomars Fotouhi Ghiam, outgoing Iranian Ambassador, called on him to bid farewell after a three-year duty tour.

Vice President Mills praised the outgoing Ambassador saying he has done a lot in contributing to the socio-economic development as well as in bridging relations between Ghana and his country. He asked him to remain a "worthy ambassador" of Ghana wherever he would be. Mr Ghiam said he was leaving the country with good memories of a striving nation whose future is very bright. He gave an overview of his duty tour and said a lot was achieved in capacity building and provision of health care. He spoke of plans to operate an Iranian dental care unit in addition to clinics and hospitals already in the country.

Mr Joseph Ahwa Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said ties between the two countries have improved over the years. He said to enhance economic and technical co-operation, the two countries established a joint commission, which was inaugurated in Accra in 1990. The Iranian government has since sponsored a wide range of projects in Ghana including the renovation of two mosques in the north, small scale water supply and irrigation systems and built clinics which are being run by Iran's Red Crescent Society.

Besides, Ghana continues to receive assistance from the Islamic Republic in the form of scholarships and grants to enhance her human resource development in various disciplines, including medicine and agriculture. In return Iran benefits from Ghana's non-traditional exports and in recent times, has initiated agreement for the purchase of Ghana's cocoa. The Vice President also granted audience to a delegation from Good Works International, an investment promotion company based in the United States.