Kufuor receives letters of Credence from four Ambassadors

Accra, Oct. 11 GNA - Four Ambassador appointed to the country on Tuesday presented their Letters of Credence to President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.

They were Ms Pamela Ethel Bridgewater, United States (US) Ambassador and Mr Maharil Bin Haji Baharam, High Commissioner of Malaysia and Mr Dafaranos Haralambos, Ambassador of the Republic of Greece and Mr Arslan Hakan Okcal, the Turkish Ambassador, both resident in Abuja-Nigeria. President Kufuor told Ms Bridgewater that America had been so supportive of the country and that "we want to deepen the relationship". He pointed out that Ghana was one of the few countries selected to benefit from the Millennium Development Accounts (MDA) saying, the country was appreciative of the US Government's Funds to fight the deadly HIV-AIDS disease, and Education promotion among other things. President Kufuor also touched on military assistance and said this was important on the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) front, mentioning, peacekeeping in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. Ms Bridgewater said she would work to as she termed it, "really consolidate the wonderful relationship".

The Malaysian High Commissioner said Ghana and his country shared similar values and interests that needed to be developed for the mutual benefits of the two nations.

He, therefore, promised to do everything he could to make this happen during the period of his duty tour, saying, he was fully committed towards ensuring the growth of the bilateral relations between Ghana and Malaysia.

Mr Baharam cited agriculture and information communication technology as some of the areas they could intensify co-operation and do business.

He said he had no doubt that more success stories of Malaysian businesses in the country could help to motivate and attract more investment.

President Kufuor shared the view that the two countries had many things in common, which had not yet been exploited to move their relationship forward.

He said it was important that the two joined hands to see how to strengthen and build upon their relations. The Greek Ambassador said the long presence of Greek Companies operating under hospitable and most promising economic environment in Ghana was a testimony of the warm relations the two nations had developed over the years.

"It is my sincere wish to be able during my tenure to further enhance and deepen the relationship of friendship, co-operation and good understanding, which happily bound our two countries and peoples". Mr Haralambos expressed the hoped that the re-activation of the Consulate-General of Greece in Accra in the not too distant future would significantly help to open up bilateral co-operation, in areas of commerce, shipping, investments, scholarships and cultural exchanges. He praised President Kufuor for his leadership role both within ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) in promoting political stability. President Kufuor said his Government was determined to open up the country's economy for partnership to take advantage of the big West African market and beyond.

The Turkish Ambassador, who was the last to present his Letter, said he was happy with the growing relations between his country and Ghana, particularly under the leadership of President Kufuor. He also lauded the tremendous strides the country was making towards development as well as its political stability. President Kufuor expressed the hope that the Ambassador would work to promote and encourage the business people in his country to interact and go into partnership with their Ghanaian counterparts.