Out-going Italian Ambassador calls on President Mills

Accra, March 30, GNA - Mr Luca Fratini, out-going Italian Ambassador to Ghana, on Tuesday called on President John Evans Atta Mills at Osu Castle in Accra, and shared fond memories of his four-month duty tour in Ghana. "I am here to thank you, for the wonderful work and friendship that has characterised my stay in Ghana," Mr Fratini said to an appreciative President Mills, who commended him for endearing himself to the people of Ghana and for the initiatives he had undertaken to improve Ghana-Italy relations.

President Mills commended Mr Fratini for serving his nation well, and presented him with a traditional Ghanaian stool and a piece of kente cloth. Mr Fratini during his duty tour took steps to establish genuine partnerships for the mutual benefit of Ghana and Italy. He said the Italian Government believed the 21st century economy would not be built through the granting of loans but through effective cooperation leading to the development of business interests of partners for mutual growth, rather than master-servant relationship to give Italy an edge over Ghana.

Mr Fratini said Italy was implementing a 33-million-Euro scheme, the Ghana Private Sector Development Facility, to provide loans at concessionary rates to Ghanaian Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to improve on their performance.

About 11 million Euros out of the package had already been disbursed. Mr Fratini said the Italian Cooperation Agency, had also been involved in the water and sanitation improvement projects, as well as waste management in the country.

Relations between the two countries existed since Ghana's independence and was given a further boost by the visit of the Italian President, Georgio Napolitanio, to Ghana during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the country's Independence in 2007.

On the economic front, Italy assisted Ghana to build the Akosombo Dam, Tema Oil Refinery and other infrastructure.