Aliu urges Switzerland to support rural transport

Vice President Aliu Mahama on Wednesday commended the Swiss Government for giving Ghana 10 million dollars budgetary support and called for its assistance to build of steel bridges to facilitate rural development.

He also appealed to the Swiss Government to support NEPAD to promote good governance, eliminate poverty, illiteracy and diseases in Africa.

Vice President Mahama made the appeal when Mr Georg Zubler, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle.

He also thanked the Swiss Government for its assistance to small and medium sized companies and the health and education sectors.

"You also provided logistics towards the resolution of the Ivorian crisis," he said. "We are grateful, but we do not want you to be discouraged by the hitches in the peace process. We are determined to restore long-lasting peace to Cote d'Ivoire and we need your support."

Vice President Mahama tasked the Ambassador to link Swiss business people to their Ghanaian counterparts for their mutual benefit and to promote the "Golden Age of Business".

He pledged government's determination to ensure the rule of law and the growth of democracy.

Mr Zubler said his government's assistance to the budget was in recognition of the good policies being pursued by Ghana.

"Our bilateral relations has flourished in the past months because we have taken note of the positive developments in Ghana and not by accident," he said.

"Our decision to support the budget for the first time was based on the determination of your government to promote the rule of law and ensure good governance."

Mr Zubler mentioned the agreement it signed last year to extend a credit facility with the Ghana Commercial Bank to refinance a credit facility in aid of small and medium sized companies as another indication of his government's commitment to support Ghana.

Additionally, he said, Switzerland was sponsoring training programmes to build the capacity of Ghanaian negotiators to become more effective in international trade agreements.

He expressed content that Ghana was in the process of introducing a new Procurement Law, saying his government would help to build technical capacity in public procurement.