Saudi Ambassador calls on Regional Minister

Accra, March 30, GNA - The current peaceful atmosphere in the Accra Metropolis is due to the peaceful co-existence between all religious groups and the realisation that each group has to respect the rights of the others.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, who speaking when Mr Mohammed Reda Abdul-Hamayah, Saudi Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him on Wednesday, said: "There is maximum security in the country that guarantees sound investment and private sector development."


He stated that the Government in its effort to achieve its Positive Change Chapter Two had laid the necessary grounds for Private Sector development and called for investment and support in the areas of tourism, health, education and infrastructure development.


"We have started a project to wage war against mosquitoes and we need insecticides to spray infested areas to prevent the spread of malaria especially among children," he said.


Sheikh Quaye thanked the Saudi Government for the support it offered Ghanaian Pilgrims during the Hajj and further appealed to all stakeholders to join efforts in finding a lasting solution to the problems of the Hajj.

Mr Abdul-Hamayah said his visit was to share ideas and information on issues that were of interest to both countries and further strengthen existing partnerships between the two countries.


He said the new oil refinery that would be built in Takoradi would be serviced with oil from Saudi Arabia to ensure stable petroleum products prices in the future.


He said a team of experts had already completed feasibility studies and that construction would commence as soon as the necessary legalities were completed on the new refinery that would have a bigger capacity than the existing Tema Oil Refinery.


He commended the Government for the tremendous infrastructure development and the peaceful atmosphere in the country and said there were enough measures to secure investment into the Private Sector. He also congratulated Ghanaians for showing enough maturity during Election 2004, adding that the achievement had accorded the country the current peace and security that would accelerate socio-economic development.