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21.07.2009 General News

Cote d' Ivoire Envoy Bids Farewell

21.07.2009 LISTEN
By Daily Graphic

Ghana expects Cote d'Ivoire to emerge as a more cohesive and united nation after the conduct of its forthcoming general election, President John Evans Atta Mills has stated.

He said since Ghana shares common frontiers with Cote d' Ivoire and is also linked to that country by linguistic and cultural ties, it will be prudent for it to be concerned about the challenges which confront the development of that country, especially the forth-coming polls.

President Mills made these remarks when Mr Ekra Kuoassi, the out-going Ivorian ambassador to Ghana, called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday to bid him farewell after a year and a half tour of duty in the country.

He made a passionate appeal to the various political parties contesting the Ivorian polls to place the nation's future development and the well-being of the people above their own partisan considerations and ensure that the conduct of the elections is smooth and orderly.

According to President Mills, the messages of political leaders during the electioneering should not incite the people against one another but should border on unity and togetherness.

He said the people of Cote d' Ivoire expect their leader to forge a common front after the conduct of the elections to find an antidote to the problems which threatens the economy and affects the quality of life of the vast majority of the people.

'It is, therefore, my wish and that of the government and the people of Ghana that the forth-coming general election in Cote d' Ivoire will be peaceful and fair', President Mills said.

He said the people anticipate that the political party which forms the next government in Cote d' Ivoire will use the abundant resources of that country, both material and human, to ensure a qualitative improvement in the living standards of the people.

He promised to deepen the already cordial relation which exists between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their people.

He said as members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), the two countries are duty bound to expand bilateral ties which will inure to their benefit.

For his part, Mr Kuoassi praised Ghana for its democratic credentials stressing that the country has demonstrated beyond every reasonable doubt that democracy can thrive on the African continent.

He commended President Mills for his electoral success during the 2008 presidential election and also the steps he has already taken so far to deepen the friendly relations between Ghana  and Cote d' Ivoire.
'My stay in Ghana has been very memorable. I feel very much at home' he said.

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