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PRESIDENT KUFUOR: Your Excellencies, President George Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush; Right Honorable
Sekyi-Hughes, Speaker; Your Ladyship, Mrs. Georgina Wood, Chief Justice of Ghana; Your
Excellency, former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, Mrs. Rawlings; Professor Adzei
Bekoe, Chairman of Council of States; Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen: Mr. President,
on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, I am delighted and honored to welcome
you and your distinguished delegation to our shores for this short but memorable visit,
We note with great admiration your commitment to the respect of human rights, democracy,
and good governance, as well as your humanitarian support for the drive towards poverty alleviation.
We recognize also your exemplary dedication to the fight against diseases, like malaria
and the ***/AIDS pandemic.
This morning, in the castle gardens, you launched a historic $350 million, five-year initiative
to fight neglected -- (applause.) This was to fight neglected tropical diseases, including
river blindness. Again, you announced the further donation of $17 million to be invested
in the control of malaria annually for three consecutive years. (Applause.) Ghana is indeed
very appreciative of this general gesture. (Applause.)
The nation's admiration extends also to your gracious wife, Mrs. Laura Bush, who is commended
highly for sharing your determination to help eradicate illiteracy on our continent of Africa.
(Applause.) She has indeed visited Ghana once in pursuance of this mission.
Mr. President, the various concerns you have articulated during your presidency provide
a reliable platform for securing peaceful and orderly development anywhere, but perhaps
more so in the developing world. Ladies and gentlemen, I must say this opportunity to
acknowledge the leading role of President Bush in the decision by the G8 to cancel the
$40 billion debt owed by the poor countries of the world to the World Bank -- (applause)
-- to the World Bank, IMF and other multilateral international lenders. A large part of Ghana's
external debts were cancelled as a result of this decision. (Applause.)
Mr. President, Africa salutes you for these gestures of goodwill that are impacting the
lives of many ordinary persons on the continent for the better. Here in Ghana, we appreciate
the assistance of the United States in the establishment of strong and viable democratic
institutions to engender fair elections, the rule of law, and respect for political and
economic rights of all Ghanaians.
Ghana is among the first sets of beneficiaries of the Millennium Challenge Accounts, initiated
by you personally, to provide greater resources to African nations that strive to uphold good
governance while also promoting economic freedom. By this policy, Ghana is benefitting from
a grant of over $547 million to modernize -- (applause) -- to modernize her agriculture.
Our country is also signatory to the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, which allows
export of over 6,000 commodities, both duty and quota free to the United States' market.
We welcome your government for facilitating measures to promote the setting up of private
equity funds through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. We have no doubt that
these far reaching measures will accelerate economic growth to change the fortunes of
our continent and help bring the much needed relief and employment to millions of ordinary
citizens of Africa.
As far as the combination of this policy with the African Growth and Opportunity Act, will
help us to tackle the supply-side handicap, which has hitherto prevented us from enjoying
the full benefits of the policy of AGOA. Mr. President, this is no doubt a good opportunity
for me to enlist your resource, to commit to the successful completion of the Doha trade
I should appeal to you also, and to the United States government, to adjust its policies
to accommodate the realistic plea of cotton-producing nations of West Africa, for many of whom the
crop is the mainstay of their economy.
Mr. President, Ghana unreservedly condemns terrorism and its spread around the world.
In particular, we appreciate your leadership since the September 11th event, which claimed
the lives of many, including some Ghanaians, who were going about their legitimate pursuits
peacefully in New York. That sad event established beyond doubt the necessity for humanity as
a whole to reject all forms of extremism and intolerance in favor of dialogue and constructive
engagements, in resolving the myriads of problems confronting the world today. (Applause.)
In this regard, my government has always supported dialogue for resolving all problems on the
Mr. President, let me once again extend our nation's warm sentiments to you, and your
young Americans arrived in your beautiful country as Ghana became the first nation to
host volunteers from the Peace Corps. (Applause.)
This long tradition of friendship and cooperation continues today. Today Ghana and the United
States are working to strengthen democracy and good government. Together we're harnessing
the power of global trade to alleviate poverty. And, Mr. President, rest assured I will work
to complete the Doha Round. (Applause.) Together we're working to preserve peace, combat disease
and help ensure that all of Ghana's citizens can give their children what we all want for
our children: a more hopeful future.
And so, Mr. President, I want to thank you for your friendship. I thank you for your
leadership. I thank you for your kindness, and I offer a toast to you, your gracious
wife, and to the noble people of Ghana. God bless. (Applause.)