Ghana honours outgoing US Ambassador

Accra, Aug.19, GNA - Ghana on Friday conferred the State Honour of Grand Medal, Honorary Division on Mrs Mary Carlin Yates, the outgoing US Ambassador in Ghana.

President John Agyekum Kufuor decorated her with the medal while Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, read the citation when Mrs Yates paid a farewell call on President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.

She assumed duty in Ghana in January 2003.

The citation said; "in recognition of your contribution, dedication and determination to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) the Republic of Ghana, hereby confers on you, the State Honour of Grand Medal, Honorary Division".

It said since Mrs Yates assumed office in Ghana, she had made tremendous efforts to enhance even further the warm and cordial relations that existed between Ghana and the US.

The citation said through the efforts of Mrs Yates, the US Government assisted Ghana with 3.6 billion cedis towards the Election 2004.

It said Ghana during her duty tour benefited considerably from the US Government's financial and logistical assistance in the military, transport, trade and energy sectors.

The citation mentioned in particular, the selection of Ghana to be included in the US Government's National Guard's State Partnership Programme (SPP) with the State of North Dakota in May this year. It said Mrs Yates demonstrated admirable skills in the acquisition of the appropriate property to start building the new American Embassy complex in Accra and her singular contribution towards the establishment of the Ghana-US Resource Centre at the Institute of Local Government Studies at Tamale and the VOA FM broadcast station in Accra.

The citation said it was during her time that Ghana was selected as one of the 16 eligible countries to benefit from the five-billion-dollar Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), which would make 290 million dollars available to Ghana and the 100 per cent debt cancellation.

President Kufuor said Mrs Yates had been supportive and shown initiative in Ghana's selection to benefit from the MCA, assistance in defence, economy, education agriculture and other sectors.

He said, "no US Ambassador has provided such cooperation and support to Ghana from the US. You have been an Ambassador for peace and shown concern for development."

Mrs Yates who presented a special message from US President George W. Bush to President Kufuor said, "she had accomplished a lot in Ghana and Ghana has found its way into her heart and will see Ghana wherever she goes."