US PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT TO GHANA

The United States of America will continue to support Ghana with significant share of appropriate funds commensurate with its economic and political policies, Mr Kenneth Brown, out-going US Ambassador to Ghana, has said.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Accra recently to mark the 219 anniversary of American Independence. The occasion also marked the end of his three-year duty tour to Ghana.

Proposing the toast, Mr Brown said during the past year, the United States continued to enjoy excellent relations with the government and people of Ghana.

Two indicators of the strength of the relationship, he said, were the successful visits to the United States by President Rawlings and the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemean Rawlings. American policy towards Africa, he said, "is based on the premise that the US should assist countries and peoples willing to help themselves in meaningful pursuit of democratic government, protection of human rights and economic reform in places where such assistance can be effective".

Ambassador Brown pointed out that during the past years, the US concentrated on health, population, education, trade and investment and support for the electoral process in Ghana "which is our partner in the third-largest US Aid programme in sub-Sahara Africa".

Replying to the toast, Commodore S. G. Obimpeh (rtd), Minister of Health noted that but for the enrolmous assistance of friends, including the US, "our economic recovery would have achieved such a remarkable success".