Accra, July 15, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday reiterated government's commitment to development and said his administration would stick to its mandate to do what was necessary to ensure better lives for Ghanaians.

Consequently, government would team up and share notes with development partners to put the nation's development on a higher pedestal to the ultimate benefit of the people.

President Mills gave the assurance when Madam Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who is on a three-day working visit to Ghana, paid him a courtesy call at the Osu Castle in Accra.

Madam Clark is also attending the UNDP Regional Bureau of Africa Meeting underway in Accra.

Ghana was chosen to host the meeting because of her commendable gains made towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

President Mills commended the UNDP for choosing, Accra, Ghana for the meeting.

He explained that such interaction was needed between Ghana and her development partners to compare notes and ensure better cooperation in the fight against poverty, diseases and other development challenges.

He said Ghana was pursuing programmes to greatly improve agriculture and commended the UNDP as the great benefactor in the nation's development efforts.

The President announced that the achievement of the MDGs would be high on the agenda of the Africa Union Heads of State Summit scheduled for Uganda later this month.

Madam Clark lauded the economic growth achieved under the Mills' administration adding "Ghana's economy is a great story".

She commended government for its efforts in stabilizing the economy in the midst of the global financial crisis.

She lauded the growth programmes that had brought improvement in health and agric and other efforts towards the achievement of the MDGs.

"We are celebrating African potential", Madam Clark said and announced that MDGs Summit had been scheduled for New York next September.

She said the summit would take place at a very important time in Africa.