President Optimistic About US Trade Relations

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the visit to Ghana by a delegation from the US Congress and Business Community was the best advocacy for the country in the United States.

"We could not have a better advocacy in the US than you being here," he told US Congressman J.C. Watts Jnr when he led a 35-member Congressional and Business delegation on a three-day visit to Ghana to pay a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

The delegation would discuss trade, economic development, health care, disease prevention and the promotion of democracy and stability in the West Africa Sub-region.

President Kufuor said: "Once you are here, you would get to know us more and deeper; when you return home inform your colleagues about what we are trying to do to attract investors".

He said the government is making sure Ghana remains the welcoming gateway to West Africa and all the required basic infrastructure and institutional framework are being put in place to make it a reality. President Kufuor said any investor determined to invest in Ghana would have his capital, technical know-how and the market free and safe to invest among hospitable people prepared and always ready to learn and very fast too, adding, "you would see in us worthy partners for economic ventures".

He said the visit is significant to promote Ghana-US relations because both countries must evolve a very special relationship based on history, culture, mutual economic interest and working towards the global village idea.

President Kufuor said Ghana wants to make good use of AGOA in the most practical and constructive manner and to achieve this Ghanaians need to know Americans better and vice-versa to have the needed confidence. "The government and the Ghanaian Business Community are pleased with the visit and hope it would achieve positive results," he added.

Mr Watts said the visit is a follow-up to a similar one he made in April and a reciprocal to President Kufuor's US visit in July to build a strong relationship between the two countries.

He said while strengthening relationships it would in addition build mutual friendship and explore avenues on how both countries could work to promote business, trade, and economic and general development.

Mr Watts said the delegation is expected to visit Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria to afford members the opportunity to understand the challenges in West Africa. "Such visits would enable us continue with the dialogue and further strengthen the relationship between US and West Africa", he added.

Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson, out-going US Ambassador, accompanied the delegation.