President Mahama Receives Five Envoys

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday received letters of credence from five Envoys with the assurance that Ghana would continue to strengthen relations with other countries to achieve full benefits of globalization. The Envoys were Konandji n�e Coulibaly, Malian Ambassador to Ghana, John Rudiger,German Ambassador to Ghana, Archbishop Jean Marie Speich, Holy See Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Honng Ngoc Ho, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ghana and Mrs Lylen Ann Scott, Jamaican Ambassador to Ghana . The Ambassadors presented their letters of credence to signal their commencement of work in the country and to establish all the necessary synergies for mutual benefits. President Mahama said that the German Government had over the years supported Ghana in all aspects of the economy and pledged to leverage the relations to the highest level of development. He said 155 German businesses were duly registered in Ghana while Germany through the German Development Agency had over the years supported the Ghanaian economy in Agriculture, water, infrastructure and governance . The support he said had brought their relations up to a total of 600 million Euros, while business relations moved to about 56 per cent between the two countries. On the Holy See, President Mahama said the Catholic Church had been instrumental in the provision of educational, health and agricultural infrastructure in the country. He also commended the Church for their contribution and their advocacy on good governance, human rights and democracy and pledged to leverage relations to ensure socio-economic development of the two partners. President Mahama also gave the assurance that Ghana and other states would strengthen their fight against injustice by fortifying the peace- keeping in Mali to stabilize the West African country. He added that government of Ghana would revive all the diplomatic relations that were stalled as a result of the political turmoil that the country experienced two years ago. The President said Jamaica and Ghana would re-establish great links to ensure that they benefited from areas that they had comparative advantage over their partners. He said Jamaica had experience in Tourism and Sports and Ghana would collaborate with them to achieve the best in those industries in the coming years. On Vietnam, President Mahama traced the relations between the two countries to Ghana's first President Nkrumah's intervention and subsequent support towards the end of the Vietnam war. He said Ghana is striving to become a net exporter of food to neighbouring West African countries and would therefore synergize with them to step up rice production in Ghana. Mr Coulibaly, the Malian Ambassador commended President Mahama and the government of Ghana for their intervention during the political turmoil in the West African country. He promised to strengthen relations with Ghana to pick up some of the good democratic practices that had catapulted Ghana to the international comity of. Nations. Mr Rudiger, German Ambassador to Ghana said he would work hard to cement the relations that had existed between Ghana and his country and called for support to achieve those objectives. He said: "Germany and Ghana are both committed to democracy, peace and stability at home in the region and overseas". Archbishop Speich promised to support Ghana in her fight against corruption, injustice and human rights abuse as a way of strengthening their historical relations. He said Ghana had distinguished herself in good governance, democracy and human rights and such advocacy he added could further raise Ghana's political credentials in years to come. Mrs Lylen Ann Scott, Jamaican Ambassador to Ghana said Ghana was a worthy partner because of her immense experience in Political and social issues in the sub-region, and her country would partner Ghana on several issues. Mr Ho, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ghana said the country which used to import rice is now the second highest exporter of rice and coffee and therefore collaborating with Ghana would help in the expansion of their market base.