Russian Delegation Call On President

President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday said Russian trained Ghanaian intellectuals had contributed tremendously to the country's socio-economic development and government was eager that more opportunities would be opened for more Ghanaians.

He said government was considering the re-activation of the Bui Dam Project and the establishment of a Gold Refinery in Ghana with the assistance of the Russian Federation that was stalled after the 1966 coup d'etat.

President Kufuor made the commendation when a 15-member delegation made up of six Parliamentarians and nine Business Executives on a three-day visit to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He said the Russian Federation had played important role in world affairs but it was not well represented in Ghana but now that it was re-assuming its proper position in global affairs, "we are happy Ghana has been recognized by Russia and there are many things we can do for our mutual benefits. We are yearning to embrace all feasible opportunities".

President Kufuor urged the Parliamentarians, who are the representatives of the Russian people, to be advocates of Ghana that was now on the threshold of development especially with trading activities that was also stalled about 25 years ago.

Dr Artur Nikolayevich Chilingarov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Leader of the Delegation, said with the relations between both countries now restored after 25 years, Russia was prepared to assist Ghana in the exploration of gas and oil and promote the fisheries, infrastructure and the transport sectors.

He said the delegation had held discussions with the Ghana-Russian Chamber of Commerce and presented computers and some books to the Russian Language Department at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, in their efforts to promote the teaching of the Russian language and culture in Ghana.