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President Kufuor conveys Africa's
appreciation to President Bush, names a road after him
Accra, Feb. 20, Ghanadot/GNA - The 14-Kilometre
Mallam-Tetteh Quarshie Road, which is to be reconstructed
into a first class six-lane dual carriageway at a cost of
101 million dollars, would be called George Bush Motorway to
immortalize the goodwill he has shown to the country and
Africa.
With that information, President
John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday conveyed Africa's
appreciation to US President George Walker Bush for his many
kind gestures towards the Continent.
Funds for the implementation of the six-lane dual
carriageway project is coming from the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA).
President Kufuor, who was proposing the toast at a State
Banquet held in honour of the visiting US President, said;
"We note with great admiration your commitment to the
respect of human rights, democracy, good governance, as well
as your humanitarian support for the drive towards poverty
reduction."
"We recognize also, your exemplary dedication to the fight
against diseases like malaria and the HIV-AIDS pandemic."
President Kufuor acknowledged the leading role of President
Bush in the decision by the Group of Eight Industrialized
Nations (G-8) to cancel the 40- billion dollar debt owed by
poor countries of the world to the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multi-lateral international
lenders.
A large part of Ghana's external debt was cancelled as a
result of this decision.
"Mr President, Africa salutes you for these gestures of
goodwill that are impacting the lives of many ordinary
persons on the Continent", he said, drawing applause from
the tall list of dignitaries at the banquet, who included
politicians, traditional rulers, top Government officials,
the clergy, high ranking public servants and the academia.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and the wife were
present.
President Kufuor welcomed President Bush's recent
facilitating measures to promote the setting up of private
equity funds through the US Overseas Private Investment
Corporation (OPIC), noting that these could accelerate
economic growth to change the fortunes of Africa and bring
the needed relief and employment to millions of ordinary
Africans.
The combination of the policy with the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA) would help the Continent to tackle
the supply side handicap, which was preventing it from
enjoying the full benefits of AGOA.
He used the occasion to ask the US to adjust its policies to
accommodate the realistic pleas of cotton producing nations
of West Africa, many of whom the crop is the mainstay of
their economies.
On international terrorism, President Kufuor, said Ghana
appreciated the leadership stance of President Bush and said
the events of "September 11" should establish beyond doubt
the necessity for human society as a whole to reject all
forms of extremism and intolerance.
Dialogue and constructive engagement should be used to
resolve the myriad problems facing the world.
Responding, President Bush said he was grateful for the
honour done him and pledged to work to strengthen the
partnership between his country and Ghana in his remaining
days in office.
Both President Bush and President Kufuor end their term in
December this year and he said, "We would finish strong and
with our heads high."
The US was by the side of Ghana at the time of independence
and would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder into the
future in the pursuit of democracy, good governance,
promotion of peace and the progress of their children, he
said.
He praised President Kufuor for his leadership, saying’ "you
have won my respect and that of leaders across the world."
President Bush, who was in Ghana on the fourth-leg of his
one-week official tour of five African countries leaves for
Liberia on Thursday morning to wrap up the trip.
GNA
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