Accra, April 14, GNA-Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, meeting President John Evans Atta Mills in Accra has lauded Ghana's democratic credentials, saying the success at her recent polls espoused the democratic values of the Commonwealth. He also lauded Ghana's role in the formation of the Commonwealth Secretariat and its support over the years, which had culminated in the entrenchment of the ideals of good governance, democracy, development and growth of member countries. Mr Sharma, also congratulated President Mills on his victory at the

polls and assumption to the office of president. He said the democratic values espoused by Ghana fell within the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which scrutinizes the principles agreed upon by member states. He spoke of the Commonwealth meeting scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago later in the year. Mr Sharma said environmental issues, food security, and the global financial downturn, which had affected states, which had made financial contributions towards running of the Commonwealth, were issues that were of the concern to the organisation.

He however, expressed confidence that the global economic downturn would not, hopefully to lead economic catastrophe, adding that Ghana had particularly displayed its commitment to addressing concerns of youth, women and the larger society. President Mills lauded the Commonwealth for its role in the peaceful nature of Ghana's last elections and its contributions to Ghana's political stability.

He said Ghana was proud of its membership of the Commonwealth and the benefits derived thereof, in terms of exposure. President Mills said Ghana's association with the Commonwealth had impacted positively on Ghanaians, in terms of human development and pledged continued association of Ghana to the Commonwealth. Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, until recently Director of Legal Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, lauded the Secretariat for its support to human resource development of Ghana Judicial Service, through the Judicial Training Institute.