Ghana to get $17m to fight malaria

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - The United States (US) has announced a 17-million-dollar support to assist Ghana in the fight against the malaria disease.

The US through its development agency, the USAID, has been actively involved in activities to help control malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-AIDS in the country, challenges Congresswoman, Nita Lowey, says, they would continue to stand by Ghana to face up to.

Congresswoman Lowey was speaking when she led a Congressional delegation to pay a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on Tuesday.

She said her country would continue to strengthen its relations with Ghana, stressing, "The US appreciates its strong partnership with Ghana."

The seven-member delegation from the Appropriation sub-Committee were at the Castle to seek the President's views on issues ranging from US-African trade, Education, African High Command to the Sudan's Darfur Region.

Ms. Lowey praised President Kufuor for his distinguished leadership that enabled Ghana to sign the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact.

The MCA, she said, could have an enormous impact, adding that, the goal was to lift the people up.

She said the management of the country's economy under his leadership as well as his role in Africa had also been commendable. Responding, President Kufuor said Ghana treasured its relationship with the US - a country, which has stood by Ghana through thick and thin.

"We are happy, we have a partner like the US working with us through its many agencies."

He said the support from the MCA would be used to build a modern agricultural system, a prototype, that would be replicated in all parts of the nation.

President Kufuor asked the Committee to act with dispatch on all measures that come before it in which, Africa, featured prominently so as to help the continent catch up with the rest of the world. He, however, pointed out that what Africa wanted was partnerships that would establish win-win relations.

He also drew attention to the need for the US to review and to re-energise its connections with Africa.

On the Hybrid Force for Sudan, President Kufuor, who is the AU Chairman, said Africa would have wanted on its own to bring peace to the troubled region but the task was so huge, it would not be able to do that all by itself, and therefore needed international support. He said it was on the basis of this that the AU and the UN Security Council agreed to send a Hybrid Force, something that the Sudanese Government has consented.

He said he therefore expected the US to make a significant input in the dispatch of the Force to Darfur. 14 Aug.2007