Take Advantage Of President's Global Respect

Ghana has been urged to position itself strategically to reap the full benefits that come with the global respect President John Agyekum Kufuor has earned for himself and the country.

“The respect that your President has earned worldwide puts Ghana ahead of her other peers on the continent and so she must take advantage of it,” India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Kamal Nath, told the Times on Monday.

This was before a dinner, organised by the Indian High Commission in Accra in honour of the Minister who is taking part in the 12th UNCTAD conference.

Mr Nath stated that, “Ghana as a democracic state is very much respected as it is committed to the tenets of the rule of law and respect for the rights of individuals”.

The Minister further commended Ghana for its enormous human resource base both within and outside the country.

On the on-going UNCTAD conference, he said participants must pay close attention to equitable growth in the global economy.

“The processing of basic raw materials in Africa must engage our attention and India can be of immense contribution is this respect,” he emphasised.

He said it was time to deepen South-South co-operation and commended the conference for promoting such a co-operation.

Mr Nath said the business and political atmosphere in both India and Ghana were right and so the two countries are better positioned to collaborate.

He mentioned the agricultural, mineral and manufacturing sectors as potential areas of partnership between the two countries.

Mr Nath said while the issue of climate change was important, poverty should engage the immediate attention of, especially, the developing countries.

He promised the continuous support of India to Africa as part of the South-South co-operation.

He said the government of India has already announced a 5.5-billion dollar assistance to Africa and said there will be future commitments.

Other dignitaries at the function were the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, William Ampem Darko and the General Manager of the Ghana News Agency, Nana Appau Duah.