Rawlings to visit the United Kingdom

President Jerry Rawlings will pay a six-day visit to the United Kingdom from September 9th to 14th after attending the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in New York.

The purpose of the visit is to enable the President to participate in the formal commemoration of the Greenwich/Tema partnership for Development Foundation at a durbar of Ghanaian chiefs, queen-mothers and cultural troupes at the Greenwich Royal Artillery Garrison on September 9, 2000. A press release from the Office of the Ghana High Commissioner in London said the launch of the Foundation is a follow-up to a twinning arrangement inaugurated last year between the Borough of Greenwich in the UK and the Tema Municipality. President Rawlings who will be accompanied by the first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings will visit Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sunderland.

While in Edinburgh, he will be hosted by the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the Speaker of the Scottish Parliament. He will also hold discussions with civil and government leaders. In Glasgow, President Rawlings will be hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow and would receive a honorary doctorate of law degree from the University of Glasgow. The release said Nana Konadu , who would be engaged in other social activities, would also receive an honorary doctorate of letters at the University of Sunderland for her contribution to equal opportunities and global development issues. It said the Duke of Edinburgh, as a Baron of Greenwich, has agreed to be a patron of the UK side of the Foundation while President Rawlings has also agreed to be the patron of the Ghana side.

The release said since the signing of the agreement, the Borough of Greenwich has donated 100 computers for the establishment of a computer- training centre in Tema. The Borough has also pledged 500,000 Pounds Sterling to establish a polytechnic for Tema and its surrounding towns and villages. " President Rawlings' visit is therefore aimed at consolidating the partnership and further enhancing the already cordial relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom," the statement added.