Pursue economic diplomacy--Prez tells envoys

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
By Edmund Mingle

President John Atta Mills yesterday invited all hands on deck to push the country’s industrialization drive, saying here is a there was a urgent need to change the nation’s economic paradigm for the benefit of Ghanaians.

“With our discovery of oil and gas, we want to change Ghana’s economic paradigm so that our over dependence primary raw materials such as cocoa, timber and gold would be a thing of the past.

“So that by the time we exploited these resources, we would have a prosperous 21st century nation whose economy is based on industry.

President Mills stated these when he swore into office Victor Smith and Peter Kwesi Ebo Yankey, Ghana’s new Ambassadors to Czech Republic and DR Congo respectively, at the Castle Osu in Accra.

The President, who reiterated his declaration of 2010 as a year of action, said the government would was pursing various initiatives to ensure that the country’s economy was effectively diversified to achieve the necessary growth.

He therefore reminded his appointees of the need to work in that direction.

Also, he reminded Ghana’s envoys of the need to pursue economic diplomacy in addition to efforts towards enhancing Ghana’s relations with other countries, with the aim of addressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.

President Mills congratulated the two envoys on their appointment, indicating that their appointment was based on their proven expertise.

Based on their vast expertise, President Mill therefore urged them to “do everything in our power to help us achieve this very important objective” of national development.

James Victor Gbeho, Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy, addressing the envoys after they had been sworn in, advised them to guard against corruption, and uphold integrity in the performance of their duties.

“Knowing you as I do, I have no doubt that you will perform creditably,” he told them, reminding them that because they have been familiar to the corridors of power, “must is expected of you.”

Mr. Smith, speaking on behalf of his colleague, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country from outside Ghana, and gave assurance they would remain loyal to Ghana and committed to the task assigned to them.