Canadian Governor General arrives for state visit

Accra, Nov. 27, GNA - The Canadian Governor General Ms Michaelle Jean, arrived in Accra on Monday to a rousing welcome to begin a five-day official state visit to Ghana.

The Canadian Military aircraft carrying her and her 14-member high profile delegation touched down at the Kotoka International Airport at exactly 1100 hours and President John Agyekum Kufuor was on hand to receive her.

As Ms Jean descended the gangway, nine-year old Irene Dadzie of the Rangoon Camp Two Primary School presented to her the "Akwaaba" bouquet. She then stepped on the red carpet and was escorted to the saluting dais where the national anthems of Ghana and Canada, punctuated by the traditional 21-gun salute, were played.

The Governor General, thereafter, inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by three officers and 106 men of the Ghana Army. She was later introduced to Senior Government Officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps by President Kufuor and treated to some wonderful cultural and acrobatic performances by a Cultural Group of the Musicians Union of Ghana.

Ms Jean is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on Tuesday.

The Governor General's visit is seen as very important in view of the significant level of development assistance Ghana has been receiving from Canada, which has shot up by about 400 per cent in the last four years.

Canada between the years 2000 and 2005 contributed over 1,572 billion cedis in official development support to Ghana.