Veep asks Ghana's foreign missions to promote investment drive

Conakry, Oct. 4, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend concluded a two-day official visit to Guinea, where he called for the transformation of Ghana's foreign missions into Investment promotion centres. He noted that since the assumption of office by President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2001, the 'champagne diplomacy' of old has given way to a pro-active Executive style, which is interested in how the foreign missions are faring as well as the quantum of investments they could attract to Ghana. Alhaji Mahama made the call, when he met with personnel of the Ghana Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, at the end of his official tour of the West African State. The Vice President on Tuesday, October 1, led a government delegation, to Guinea to grace the country's 50th independence anniversary, which is on the theme: "Together We Build." He observed that Ghana has a very good image abroad hence the need for the personnel to seize every opportunity to educate their people at home about the need for peaceful General Election to protect the national goodwill. Alhaji Mahama said Ghana had gone through four major elections, since 1992 without hitch and did not understand why the trend should be reverse in 2008. He observed that democracy is now a way of life in the country, hence the need to diffuse the fear that the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be characterised by violence. Alhaji Mahama said Government was committed to a clean, transparent and peaceful campaign and was therefore opening the doors of Ghana to international observers. Dr Charles Brempong-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, expressed the view that reactivation of Ghana-Guinea Joint Commission of Co-operation would promote the teaching and learning of English in Guinea, while experts from Guinea would also facilitate the teaching of French in Ghana.