Mills Returns From US Trade Investment Trip

Accra -9 June Vice President Professor John Atta Mills returned home today from North Carolina USA, after attending a week long seminar on policy dialogue on the Ghanaian economy. He was accompanied by a delegation including representatives from the public and private sector, the TUC and some members of the opposition. The government delegation comprises Dr Kwabena Adjei,Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport, Mr Daniel Ohene Adjekum. Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Dan Abodakpi, deputy minister of Trade and Industry and Mr Kojo Yankah, Central Regional Minister. Prof. Mills told newsmen that his delegation had ''fruitful and beneficial discussions'' on the continuation of the policy dialogue on the Ghanaian economy held at Akosombo some months ago. He said attention was focused mainly on the policy dialogue intended to make Ghana a middle level country as envisaged in Vision 2020. The vice president said Vision 2020 has a role for all stakeholders and therefore urged all to adjust themselves to the government's policy on the economy. He said the decisions arrived at the seminar aimed at reducing inflation and controlling government expenditure. There is also the need to improve Ghana's ports and its infrastructure and revamp the financial sector " if we want to achieve what has been set out in Vision 2020. He said they arrived at the conclusion that there was the need for a greater interaction between the private and public sectors since the private sector has been designated as the engine of growth which needs to be empowered to achieve its objectives. Prof Mills said they also had the opportunity to meet investors and policy makers including Senator Jesse Helmes, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and others who are ''sponsoring a unique bill on African Growth and Opportunity''. "This is a very important Act because it is the first time the U.S. is focusing exclusively on Africa, adding that there are provisions in the Act for equity investment, aid and improvement of the infrastructure of African countries. Mr Kwame Pianim, an NPP businessman, said he has always emphasised ''Ghana as a team competing with other countries'' and therefore need ''to work together by putting all hands on deck to improve the quality of life of our people." He said Americans were happy that they came together as one delegation and described the gesture as very positive. Dr.J.A.Addison,president of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) stressed the need for the private sector to do all it can to improve the life of the citizenry by providing them with incentives that will not only offer them jobs but also help their industries to grow.