Prez Commends Italy For Supporting Ghana's Development

President Mills being assisted by Mr Ken Kanda, Director of State Protocol, to present a stool to the outgoing Italian Ambassador, Mr Luca Fratini when he bid farewell to the President at the Castle, Osu.

ThePresident, Professor John Evans Atta Mills has commended the Government of Italy for her continued support for Ghana’s economic advancement and social progress.

He explained that the support that Italy had rendered in the fields of science and technology had contributed towards the government’s efforts at developing the economy.

President Mills gave the commendation when the outgoing Italian Ambassador, Mr Luca Fratini, called on him at the Castle, Osu, to bid him farewell.

Present at the Castle was Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumumi.

President Mills traced the relations between Ghana and Italy to the First Republic under the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and underlined that Italy had been a good and true friend of Ghana.

He called for the deepening of relations between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples and praised the outgoing ambassador for taking a number of initiatives designed to boost economic co-operation between the two countries.

President Mills said although Mr Fratini’s stay in Ghana was short, he did his best to improve the economic partnership between Ghana and Italy.

“It is my wish that you stayed longer to continue with your good works, but your country needs you most,” he said.

For his part, the outgoing ambassador thanked the government for the support given him during his stay in the country and said he would carry to his country fond memories of Ghana, especially the hospitality of the people.