Govt to encourage private power producers

Accra, May 27, GNA-- The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has said government will not hesitate to accommodate independent private power producers in the country. This is to enable government meet its energy requirement that is so vital to

the survival and growth of the economy. He said the government would thus encourage private individuals who

would venture into building power plants base on mutual business promotion. Mr. Mahama, who was speaking when the Bulgaria Ambassador, Mr. Nedelcho Peneff, on Wednesday called on him at the Castle, Osu said, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration is committed to making

life bearable to every Ghanaian. "Much emphasis will be placed on agricultural production and agro

processing and this explains that about 60 per cent of the Ghanaian population depends on agriculture for their livelihood and therefore every support will be

given to investors and donor partners who will like to venture into those

sectors". Mr. Mahama called for tighter and stronger relations between Ghana and

Bulgaria, saying the country will not hesitate to tap into the rich experience of

Bulgaria in gas exploration, particularly so because of the recent oil find in Ghana that will be on stream mid next year. He called for the re-establishment of a joint commission between Bulgaria and Ghana to foster stronger ties between the two. Mr. Peneff lauded the outcome of Ghana's 2008 general elections, sayng his country is also due for an election and expressed the hope that they will also come out successfully like Ghana. He said his country used to have stronger ties with Ghana until the immediate past administration took over power in 2001. He said since then, the

two countries had been poles apart. Mr. Peneff called for a renewal of relations and pledged his country's

preparedness to assist Ghana in the areas of agriculture, education, security and

defence.