Ghana says Saudi prince offers help to Ashanti

06:33 a.m. Oct 19, 1999 Eastern

ABIDJAN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Ghana's acting Mines and Energy minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said on Tuesday that the government had received a letter from Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal offering financial assistance for Ashanti Goldfields Co Ltd.

``He has written formally to the government expressing his willingness to be of financial assistance in whatever the government deems desirable. We've not had a chance to discuss the details yet,'' Spio-Garbrah told Reuters in Abidjan by telephone from the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

``(The Prince) has been interested in various investment opportunities in Ghana for a number of years. This may be for him such an opportunity, but I can't say what is his long-term interest in Ghana,'' Spio-Garbrah said.

There were no immediate plans for the Saudi prince to visit Ghana for talks.

He said the government was open to support from any quarter.

``The government is open to all support from investors or potential partners of Ashanti. (They can) come forward to let us know what they can do to both save Ashanti and strenghen it financially,'' he said.