Ghana draws from the Asian experience

Ghana’s president John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said the next 'presidential initiative' after the cassava and garment projects would be the cultivation of palm trees based on the Malaysian experience.

He noted that through effective and maximum use of palm, the Asian country earned about eight billion dollars from the export of products of the crop.

President Kufuor was speaking to newsmen at the Kotoka International Airport on arrival from a two-nation tour of Asia, where he attended the SMART DIALOGUE in Malaysia and India.

The President described his visit as a "learning mission" from which Ghana could emulate the people of the two Asian countries, towards economic development.

He said Malaysia and India had undergone impressive development, adding that the visit would enhance mutual co-operation between Ghana and the countries. "I am astonished at the level of development that had taken place in Malaysia, considering the fact that the country and Ghana attained independence at the same time and has the same climatic conditions."

President Kufuor said Malaysia had also made strides in the information technology, pharmaceutical and fertilizer production, adding that the experts in that country had agreed to assist Ghana in those areas.

The President, who had discussions with officials of the Malaysian government, said the two sides agreed to put behind previous "unhappy developments" and forge ahead through co-operation.

He briefed newsmen on the SMART DIALOGUE, which was attended by 14 other Heads of State, saying they discussed current international developments.

In India, Mr. Kufuor met the government functionaries and also toured factories and companies to acquaint himself with the level of development in that country.

The two sides ratified four agreements for the establishment of an Information and Communication Centre of Excellence in Ghana to train Ghanaians and persons from other West African countries.

They also signed pacts to protect each other's investment and to co-operate in cultural, scientific and educational fields and to restore the Ghanaian-Indian Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation.

The business community in that country had agreed to visit Ghana to explore investment opportunities, President Kufuor said.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Hackman Owusu-Aguemang said while in Malaysia, Madam Theresa Kufuor presented a paper on "Social aspect of development: African perspective," at a first lady's conference, under the SMART summit.

Madam Theresa, the President's wife, the Foreign Minister Owusu-Agyemang, Mr. Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister for Communication and Technology and Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister responsible for Private Sector Development accompanied President on the trip.