Switzerland restores $25 million assistance to Ghana

Geneva, Dec. 11, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday commended the Swiss Government for restoring a 25 million dollars budgetary support that was stalled sometime ago.

The Swiss have also designated Ghana as one of their most favoured countries and pledged to cooperate with her in the fields of cultural exchange and technological support in agribusiness.

President Kufuor made the commendation in a closed door meting with Mr Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation in Geneva at the on-going World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).

Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President briefing newsmen after the meeting said the ECOWAS Chairman also briefed President Couchepin on the political situation within the West African Sub-Region and appealed to him (Couchepin) for more United Nations (UN) assistance to complement the French troops in Cote d'Ivoire.

He congratulated President Couchepin on his re-election on Wednesday for another four-year term.

Mr Agyepong, who is also the Presidential Spokesman, said the meeting discussed bilateral issues and prospects for more cooperation and modernization of the agricultural and mining sectors.

He said President Couchepin said Switzerland and Ghana had a common agricultural policy and pledged more assistance for agribusiness and transfer of technology to add more value to agricultural products.

President Couchepin expressed appreciation for President Kufuor for accepting the invitation to attend the Summit and efforts he had made to restore peace and stability within the West Africa Sub-Region.

Mr Agyepong said President Kufuor also held another meeting with President Aristides Peres of the Cape Verde Islands.

He said they discussed the situation in Guinea-Bissau after the bloodless coup that toppled President Koumba Yala, the transitional government and efforts to restore democracy to the country.