Accra, May 3, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday gave the assurance that Ghana would step up its economic transformation programme to step into the economic achievements of Singapore and other advanced economies.

"Ghana takes a lot of inspiration from Singapore in their economic transformation from a third into a first world country, which gives hope to us that we can also do same," he said. Vice President Mahama said this when Giam Chin Toon, Singaporean Ambassador in Ghana, led a delegation of business men to call on him at the Castle, Osu.

The delegation is in the country to explore investment opportunities and partnerships in urban waste management, land use planning, industrial park development, land transport system and port management and operations.

Vice President Mahama said Ghana was on the verge of passing a public/private partnership law to serve as a legal framework for collaboration among the sectors to promote rapid economic development. He said urbanization in Ghana was on course and therefore needed investment in sanitation, which remained a major stumbling block for Ghana's forward march to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr. Toon said the visit of the delegation was a follow-up to a similar one they undertook in 2009, after which an African investment forum was held, attracting the Ghana Investment Promotion Council. He said the business delegation in the country had adequate expertise and had for the past years contributed immensely towards the transformation of Singapore.