Ghana to look into the dev't crystal ball of Malaysia

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday expressed the desire of Ghana to learn about the rapid economic development of Malaysia and trot the progress of that country. "We need to learn from the secrets of Malaysia to work together to achieve what, that country has achieved," the Vice President told Mr Mihalil Aj Baharam, the Malaysian High Commissioner, at a meeting at the Castle, Osu.

Vice President Mahama said although Ghana and Malaysia gained political independence the same year the development gap was quite huge, adding that even trade and investment were not on the same footing. He said although Ghana valued the historic relations; trade and investment should be key to their bilateral relations. Vice President Mahama said Ghana was equally eager to tap the Information and Technology expertise of the Asian economic giant to build the capacity of students in second cycle schools. He asked Malaysia to restore the scholarship facility it was offering Ghanaian students.

The Vice President expressed satisfaction about the joint venture between Social Security and National Insurance Trust and Malaysia to put up 2,000 housing units, saying the successful completion of the project would mitigate the chronic national housing problem. "It is a project dear to our hearts," he said. Mr Baharam said Malaysian investors were new in Ghana and the West African Sub-Region with only about 10 years experience. He said his country was learning about the initial mistakes some of the investors made to facilitate more investments. Mr Baharam called for fair opportunity for Malaysians in trade and business in other to diversify their investment drive. He asked Ghana to look beyond its traditional trading partners and eye the East, where there were many opportunities.