Ghana Expresses Confidence In New Executives Of ECOWAS Commission

President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed Ghana�s confidence in the new executives of the ECOWAS Commission. He hoped that they will work more to bring the needed development to the people of the sub-region instead of resolving conflicts. President Mills said this when the executives led by the President Kadre Desire Ouadraogo paid a courtesy call on him and to also introduce themselves at the Castle, Osu. Mr Ouadraogo who together with the executives are attending the ECOWAS China Trade Forum was grateful to Ghana for agreeing to host the forum. The second China ECOWAS Economic and Trade Forum has opened in Accra. It is the first to be held in Africa. During the two-day forum, business executives from both China and the sub-region will discuss how to maximise the inflow of foreign direct investment. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, SADA, Alhassan Andani has called on China to invest in the North Eastern SADA zones which have been found to abound in Iron ore, gold and other precious minerals. He said this can be done by forming partnership with government and the private sector. Mr Andani was part of an ECOWAS, China delegation that called on the Vice President, John Mahama, at the Castle, Osu. The delegation is in the country to attend the two day China ECOWAS economic and trade forum in Accra. The forum allows for the private sector and entrepreneurs in the ECOWAS zone to meet with Chinese firms to form joint ventures. The first China-ECOWAS forum was held in Beijing in September 2008. Vice President John Dramani Mahama noted that it is about time, ECOWAS countries leverage their energies towards inter-connecting roads, rails and habours among other networks. This, he said, is the only way sub-regional integration, which is pre-requisite to developing a common market can be achieved. Vice President John Mahama noted that ECOWAS countries must take advantage of low-cost financing and technology from China to develop sustainable growth in all sectors. The Vice Chairman of the China Council for the promotion of International trade, Yu Ping, commended Ghana for opening her doors to the Chinese people and businesses. He said China is ready to provide any form of assistance to Ghana.