Mills: World Bank is supportive of $3bn Chinese loan

Accra, Sept 27, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday said the World Bank was supportive of Ghana's initiative to access $3 billion Chin= ese assistance for the development of infrastructure.

The Bank, he said, in no way frowned on the assistance from the Asian nation, but was supportive of Ghana's efforts to access and make funds available to boost its infrastructure development.


"I am surprised that people are putting a spin on this. They (the World Bank) are


very supportive. They know we need the assistance for infrastructure development,"


President Mills said in an interview with journalists, moments after he arrived at the Accra International Airport, after attending the 66th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.


The President was at a loss on why the spin was being put on a discussion with the World Bank on the sidelines of the Assembly on the Chinese development assistance.


President Mills stated 93we can't develop that if infrastructure is missing." The President, who addressed the UN General Assembly, said there was also a meeting of Heads of State States, which was chaired by US President Barrack Obama.

President Mills said he also had meetings with fellow heads of Governments and a number of investors, who were already in Ghana.


The President said the some of the investors were already telling the story of the good investment climate in Ghana, and marketing Ghana as a preferred investment destination.


President Mills said Government would not relent in providing the enabling environment for business to thrive. On the acquisition of a national airline, the President re-stated Government position that it was not a priority, as the Ghana International Airline was presently involved in a court case and there were other pressing areas for Government's attention.


Apart from addressing the Assembly, President Mills addressed U. S investors at a luncheon, organized by the Business Council for International Understanding= BCIU in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. President Mills was met on arrival by Vice President John Mahama, Ministers of


State, the Inspector-General of Police and Senior Government officials.