Kufuor receives Letters of Credence of four new Ambassadors

Accra, March 29, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday received Letters of Credence of four new Ambassadors accredited to Ghana at the Castle, Osu.

They are Mr Saadi Mohamed Altumaizi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine; Mr Miroslav Krench, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; Mr Paul Kakoulangba, Ambassador of Cote d' Ivoire and Mr Nurhadi Djazuli Ambassador of Indonesia.

President Kufuor told the Czech Ambassador, who was the first to call, that he was counting on the support of his home Government to re-activate the Kumasi Shoe Factory that was built by Ghana's First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

He said in a global world, it was important to build good relations and ensure fellow feeling, adding that it was on the basis of this that the two countries would have to deepen and strengthen their relations. The Ambassador said his focus would be on promoting trade, cultural and educational co-operation with Ghana.

Mr Kakoulangba conveyed the gratitude of the Ivorian Government to President Kufuor for his role and efforts to help restore peace to the troubled West African country.

He said the two neighbouring countries were obliged by history and geography to live together.

President Kufuor said anything affecting Cote d'Ivoire also affected Ghana and it was for this reason that his Government would do everything possible to help them to find the way forward.

"We are motivated by the best of intentions for Cote d'Ivoire. I believe the future of that country should be bright. It is well endowed; it has good people, who are industrious, people who know where they are coming from and where they are going."

The next to present his Letters of Credence was Mr Altumaizi, who updated President Kufuor on the political situation in his country and said it was committed to deepening bilateral relations with Ghana. Responding, President Kufuor said Ghana and the State of Palestine had been friends for a long time and Ghana stood with Palestinians through thick and thin.

He said Palestine occupied a significant place in global affairs as the whole world paid attention to whatever happened in that region. He said the Ambassador he was replacing served so well and he must be inspired by that performance to do well.

Speaking after receiving the Letters of the Indonesian Ambassador, President Kufuor said the two countries shared a common interest in cocoa and that Ghana wanted to work together with his country in many fields for their mutual benefit.

He recalled the pioneering role of the two nations in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mr Djazuli pledged to help to take their bilateral relations to a new height. 29 March 06