Commonwealth wants cancellation of debts of developing countries

Accra, Sept.27, GNA - The 42nd international conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has ended in Trinidad and Tobago with a call for the cancellation of debts of developing countries.

The conference agreed that debt relief was a good mechanism for eradicating poverty and steps must therefore be taken by both developed and developing countries to normalise the situation.

Mr Justice Daniel F. Annan, Speaker of Parliament disclosed this to the GNA on Sunday on his return from the 10-day conference at the head of a six-member Ghana delegation.

The Speaker said the conference, which was under the theme, "Responsibility, Accountability and Transparency", was attended by representatives from all Commonwealth countries.

The Ghanaian delegation took advantage to hold discussions with their Caribbean counterparts with the aim of improving bilateral relations. Justice Annan said the two sides considered direct air links between the two regions.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and a member of the delegation said the delegation met with the Ghanaian community in Trinidad Tobago and discussed a number of topical issues.

These include the dual citizenship bill, the students' impasse with the university authorities and real estate development in the country, The deputy Minister, who is MP for Gomoa West, said she invited her compatriots to visit home since some of them have been in the Caribbean for the past 27 years.

Other members of the delegation were Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Alabira Ibrahim, MP for Mion, Mr Joe Donkor, MP for Tano North and Mr James de Graft Johnson, Secretary to the delegation.