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17.10.2008 General News

Federation Of Consuls Celebrates 25th Anniversary

By Daily Graphic
Federation Of Consuls Celebrates 25th Anniversary
17.10.2008 LISTEN

Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chief Advisor to the President, has called on Ghanaians to preserve the tranquillity existing in the country as they prepare for this year's general elections.

She said the positive impact of the great success the country had chalked up in the maintenance of peace, which had become the hallmark of the political scene in recent years, could not be discounted.

Mrs Chinery-Hesse made the call at a banquet for the congress of the World Federation of Consuls, Africa Region, in Accra. It was part of activities marking the 25th anniversary of the World Federation of Consuls.

She said, the period in office of President Kufuor had been marked by commitment to the rule of law and good governance.

This, according to her, had been facilitated through strengthening of the key institutions of governance, which had become sturdier and more confident in the discharge of their constitutional mandates.

“As Ghana is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in December, and as President Kufuor prepares for a smooth exit by ensuring a peaceful transition, it is our fervent hope as citizens that the tranquility, which has made us a shinning beacon on the African continent, is preserved,” she stated.

Mrs Chinery-Hesse told the gathering that Ghana's economy had witnessed many changes for the better during the past seven years, adding that “development and growth have assumed a faster pace”.

She said there was confidence in the economy to the extent that the country was able to raise $750 million on the London Stock Exchange last year.

“Indeed, these socio-economic successes are making an impact within the society, and Ghana has already achieved ahead of schedule, the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty by half by 2015,” she added.

She said there was also a commitment to the improvement of the human researcher base, with the launch of the new Educational Reform Programme, while social services delivery was better and more widespread across the country.

“Additionally, there has been a phenomenal expansion of infrastructure to support a modern economy. In all respects, the country is ready for accelerated development,” she emphasised.

Mrs Chinery-Hesse stressed the need for more assiduous work, so that through regional integration and operating from a united front, Africa would be positioned as a significant player in world affairs.

She plegded that Ghana would continue to work towards the implementation of various African Union and ECOWAS initiatives in order to create more opportunities for trade, commerce and socio-cultural exchanges on the continent and within the sub-region.

Mrs Chinery-Hesse reminded the consuls that Africa could not remain an island and should, therefore, reach out to other parts.

“The world has moved closer towards becoming totally a global village, and African countries, including Ghana will not be spared her share of global menaces like illicit drug trafficking, child trafficking, proliferation of small and light weapons as well as climate change, which do not discriminate among nations of the world, and which therefore demand joint action,” she stated.

The Swedish Consul General in Ghana and Vice-President of the World Federation of Consuls, Mr Amarkai Amarteifio was honured for his contribution to the development of World Federation of Consuls.

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