Mahama receives six envoys

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday called for partnership to enable his administration to stabilise the economy and achieve the goals of fiscal consolidation.

He said the fiscal consolidation policy, which is a move to find lasting solutions to the current challenges, need concerted efforts from all development partners, adding that it is, therefore, not out of place to seek technical and financial support from them.

President Mahama made the call when he received six new envoys who are beginning their duty tour of the country.

The envoys are Mr Gerhard Brugger, Swiss Ambassador, Mr Arafan Kabine Kaban, Guinean Ambassador and Mr Jon Benjamin, British High Commissioner.

The rest are; Mr Joseph Habineza, Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria and Ghana, Dr Right Honourable Lockwood Smith, New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ghana and Professor Alejandro Israel Correa Ortega, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ambassador to Benin and Ghana.

President Mahama said Ghana would collaborate with Switzerland to reduce the housing deficit.

He said government would also draw closer relations to strengthen the Ghana Standards Authority to improve the quality of made in Ghana goods and to ensure that the intellectual property law is effectively implemented.

President Mahama, who also received the United Kingdom High Commissioner, commended the British government for the continuous support to Ghana through the Department for International Development, especially the assistance to the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme.

He appealed to Britain to take a look at Ghana's home grown fiscal consolidation policy and find out where it could offer the necessary support for development.

On Guinea, President Mahama, who traced the historical ties of the two countries to the days of former President Kwame Nkrumah said Ghana had a comparative advantage in the production of energy, and her success would make her a net exporter of the commodity to neighbouring countries, including Guinea.

President Mahama commended the people of Rwanda for establishing the national consultation dialogue, which would seek to unite and accelerate the socio-economic development of the country.

With New Zealand, President Mahama said his administration would tap the country’s knowledge in the areas of agriculture and tourism to harness her potentials and increase the income levels of the country.

He said New Zealand had expertise in renewable energy, which Ghana would tap to find alternative measures to the hydro and thermal plants that are being used.

President Mahama commended Venezuela for offering scholarships for students to study in food science and gave the assurance that Ghana would strengthen relations in political consultations that would enhance mutual benefits.

Swiss Ambassador Gerhard Brugger commended Ghana for good governance and the placement of certain legal frameworks that would subsequently achieve development goals.

He promised to continue with all the bilateral relations and projects that were initiated by his predecessor.

Guinean Ambassador Kaba presented a letter of invitation from his President calling on President Mahama to come for a state visit at his own convenience.

Mr Benjamin, British High Commissioner, said Ghana and the United Kingdom had shared values of democracy, good governance, rule of law and respect of human rights and would continue to operate on those levels during his duty tour of the country.

The Rwandan, New Zealand and Venezuelan Ambassadors also indicated their commitment to work closely with Ghana to achieve their targets in the country.