President Mahama receives Chinese and Ethiopian delegations

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday gave the assurance that Ghana would maintain and even step up diplomatic relations with countries that had related with the Government despite the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.

“Government, will strife to strengthen relations that late President Mills embarked on before his death, as a way of continuing with the good works he started.”

President Mahama gave the assurance when he was receiving special envoys from China and Ethiopia in Accra on Thursday.

They are in the country to commiserate with the Government and people of Ghana and to attend the funeral of President Mills on Friday, August 10.

President Mahama said Ghana and China had over the years enjoyed good relations, and the Government would strengthen that relationship by adhering to the previous bilateral agreements that had been signed.

“I want to say that China is not only a good friend of Ghana alone, but the entire African continent as she has pledged to provide financial support of billion to African countries for the next three years.”

Mr Li Liguo, Chinese Minister for Civil Affairs, who delivered President Hu Jiantao's message to President Mahama, eulogised late President Mills for the numerous development projects he had embarked upon, and hoped President Jiantao would enjoy better relations with President Mahama.

Mr Liguo pledged to support Ghana to strengthen the economy and improve on educational and other social infrastructure.

He said Ghana had demonstrated total commitment to the relations between them through constant visits to China, and the Chinese would reciprocate this by providing them with the necessary push to achieve her developmental goals.

President Mahama, who traced the relations between Ghana and Ethiopia to the days of President Kwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie commended Ethiopians for the demonstration of love and brotherhood in the event of the death of President Mills.

Mr Kassa Teklebirhan, Speaker of People's Representative of Ethiopia, who presented President Meles Zinawi's message to President Mahama, promised to strengthen relations with Ghana at all levels of development.

GNA