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16.03.2007 General News

President Kufuor to attend UK NPP delegates conference

16.03.2007 LISTEN
By myjoyonline

President Kufuor will on Friday attend a delegates' conference of the New Patriotic Party in the United Kingdom.

The President who's in the UK at the invitation of the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, ended his three-day state visit on Thursday.
The Liverpool John Moores University also conferred an honorary doctorate degree on the president.

Joy FM and BBC's Kwaku Sakyi Addo who is also in the United Kingdom covering the visit says the President has other appointments to honour before returning home.

President Kufuor is scheduled to have several meetings on his state visit to the United Kingdom.

Key among them is a meeting with the UK's special representative for Africa, Baroness Amos and other high profile private business people in a bid to attract more investment to the country.

Earlier today, President Kufuor witnessed the signing of a 150 million dollar-loan agreement for the COCOBOD.

Information and National Orientation Minister, Kwamena Bartels who's accompanying the President on the UK trip says the money will have significant impact on cocoa farmers.

He told Joy FM's Elvis Quarshie that the three-year-termed loan was signed by the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Isaac Osei and his counterpart from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Bartels said it is the first time the COCOBOD has accessed a term loan and that gives the COCOBOD a leeway in its application of the facility and it would help it buy more cocoa and also help to maintain the quality of beans Ghana is famous for.

He said cocoa farmers would now be paid quickly as the loan facility would also ensure that produce in excess of anticipated purchases for the year would be accommodated.

Meanwhile President Kufuor will be on the stands when Michael Essien's Chelsea play Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

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