Envoys present Letters of Credence to Mills

President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday received Letters of Credence from three envoys accredited to Ghana at the Osu Castle, Accra.

The envoys are Mr Naoto Nikai, as the new Japanese Ambassador to Ghana; Major Gen (rtd) Asif, Pakistani Ambassador to Ghana; and Mr Patrick Fay, the Irish Ambassador to Ghana.

President Mills traced the good relations between Ghana and the three countries, and urged the new envoys to team up with Government to raise the relations to a higher pedestal especially, in the areas of trade and investment.

Welcoming the Japanese Ambassador, President Mills registered Ghana’s appreciation to Japan for her development assistance.

Quite recently, Ghana’s relations with Japan was assuming higher levels with the visit of President Mills to Japan last year, during which he met with the Emperor and the Prime Minister, resulting in fruitful discussions and dividends.

President Mills expressed once again Ghana’s sympathy to Japan over last year's earthquake which claimed a lot of lives and properties.

He expressed confidence in the Japanese resilience, and said despite the lingering of that sordid episode, the Japanese had been able to make remarkable progress.

Mr Nikai for his part, said Japanese business people were increasing their investment in Ghana.

He assured the President that Japan would continue to play an active role in the economic development of Ghana, citing specifically, the agricultural and industrial sectors.

At the turn of the Pakistani Ambassador, President Mills commended Pakistan for being a benefactor to Ghana, and noted that the two nations established diplomatic ties soon after Ghana’s independence.

President Mills, a skilled hockey player, recalled that Pakistan offered Ghana coaching assistance in hockey in addition to other areas of national development.

He threw an invitation to Pakistani investors to make Ghana the preferred investment destination to increase the volume of trade between the two nations.

As members of the Commonwealth, President Mills stressed, there is the need for greater collaboration to find solutions to challenges that confronted them.

President Mills also consoled the Government and people of Pakistan on the flood that hit their country last year.

Major Gen (rtd) Asif urged Ghana to take advantage of Pakistani expertise in the development of her newly found oil industry.

He observed that Pakistan and Ghana shared similar culture, history and working systems, and invited Ghana to take part in his country annual business and investment expo.

At the turn of the Irish Ambassador, President Mills, expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the Government and people of Ireland, for their missionaries and teachers.

Ghana had also received assistance from Ireland for democratic development, economic development and education.

President Mills recalled that the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, where he was once a lecturer, was an Irish.

President Mills announced that Ghana is considering re-opening its mission in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Fay said Ghana had been at the fore of pursuing regional integration.

He announced that his home country would increase trade with Ghana.