We are committed to peace-President Mills

From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Kampala, Uganda

Kampala, July 28, GNA- President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday reiterated that Government would maintain the peace the nation enjoys and help her sister African nations to ensure that Continent remained peaceful.

He underscored peace as the pre-requisite for development, condemned terrorists and people who did not want peace to disabuse their minds of using violence as the only way forward to resolving problems.

President Mills made the remark on Tuesday when he interacted with Ghanaians residents in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, where he attended the three-day 15th Summit of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government, which discussed largely the way forward for African countries and counter terrorist attacks which were resurfacing in parts of the Continent.

The meeting was planned to discuss the role of Governments in ensuring maternal, infant and child health in the development of the African Continent, but the discussion of peace and security took centre-stage alongside the main summit theme in the wake of two separate bomb attacks that rocked the city of Kampala two weeks prior to the Summit.

The two suicide bombing incidents linked to Somali al-Shabaab insurgents were seen as retaliatory moves against Uganda and Burundi, who have largely contributed troops to the Africa Mission in Somalia, to disrupt the organisation of the Summit in Uganda.

The Summit was nearly moved away from Uganda for security reasons, but the strong posture put by host President Yoweri Kaguta, who also ensured the beefing up of security throughout the days of the summit.

President Mills registered profound commendation for the Government of Uganda for its courage to hold the summit despite the terrorist threats.

He conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, but however condemned the dastardly acts that claimed the lives of 76 people.

Some of the recommendations of the summit was to reinforce the AU Mission in Somalia, for which Ghana was approached to make contributions.

President Mills said Government was serious with its commitment to peace both at home and the Continent, and peace should be the number one priority of all African nations.

"Peace is our number one priority, and when we are in the position, we should help our brothers and sisters who have been confronted with this scourge", the President said.

He said Ghana was considering the request to contribute troops to the AU Mission in Somalia, and the final decision would be taken in consultation with the Ghana Armed Forces, based on the availability of human resources, equipment and welfare of the soldiers.

President Mills applauded Ghanaian residents in Uganda for being law-abiding.

The President assured the people that despite the initial challenges it inherited as Government, there was light at the end of the tunnel for a buoyant economy attractive to residents and investors.

While assuring the people of a non-partisan Government, President Mills said his administration was working with diverse people across the political divide and invited those with the requisite skills, to come back home and support the national development process and build a Better Ghana.

"We are focused, and determined to achieve the ultimate aim of pulling out people out of the doldrums, so that the average Ghanaian can have the life he has dream of for years", the President said.

On the issue of warm weather conditions back at home on which concerns were raised, President Mills said Government was conscious of the need to make the environment friendly.

He said Government is engaged in an eco-project under which the beaches were being cleaned, in addition to tree-planting programmes to improve the green cover, and new programmes have been introduced to check the spread of malaria.

Such programmes, the President said, would work only if the people keep the environment clean.