PIC: London Bridge - Cape Coast

A Chief in Cape Coast has asked the government to make sure that the British Prime Minister Tony Blair goes to the city when he arrives in Ghana for his three-day visit. The senior divisional chief, Nana Kweku Egyir Gyepi, told the Ghana News Agency it would be appropriate for the Prime Minister of Britain, to be in Cape Coast because there are several monuments in the city named after British monarchy.

He mentioned the Victoria Park near the Cape Coast Castle where a bust of the former British Queen is displayed. He said Mr. Blair should be given the opportunity to see at first hand the deplorable condition of the Victoria Park and an appeal made to him to help put the park back in shape.

Mr Blair, who arrives in Accra on Thursday evening, is scheduled to make only one visit outside Accra and that will be to the Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo and a brief stop over at Suhum, all in the Eastern Region.

He will have talks with President John Agyekum Kufuor and visit the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. The visit to Ghana is part of Tony Blair’s four-nation tour of Africa. He will first visit Nigeria before coming to Ghana. He will also visit Sierra Leone and Senegal.

The British Premier’s discussions with the leaders of these countries are expected to centre on the development of Africa and role the developed world could play in ending the numerous conflicts plaguing the continent. Mr. Blair says he expects a successful tour.

Meanwhile, Ghanaians have welcome the visit as a rare opportunity that would not only bolster bilateral ties between Ghana and Britain but also further enhance global confidence in the West African nation, especially at the time of building her weak economy. "The visit is a rare honour that we would have to take advantage of in future to boost our weak economy and our fledgling democracy," said Mr Oscar Ameyedowo, a retired diplomat and a former Member of Parliament.

The UK has remained Ghana's major trade and development partner since its independence. Between 1997 and 2001, Britain sank nearly 100 million pounds into various sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Specific areas included agriculture, roads, rural livelihood, water, human capacity building and local government.

In 2000, Ghana's exports to the UK amounted to 100 million pounds and this increased by 31.43 per cent in 2001. Her Imports from the UK was 169.4 million pounds in year 2000. It increased only by nine per cent the following year. The top five items exported to the UK from Ghana were cocoa, coffee, spices,fish, vegetables and fruits, metalliferous ores and metal scraps and non-ferrous metals. Imports to Ghana from the UK were tobacco, miscellaneous manufactured goods,vehicles, general industrial machinery and telecom equipment.

As usual with such important visits, Mr Blair is expected to arrive to a colourful display of Ghanaian culture at the Kotoka International Airport where he is expected to interact with the people and speak with the press. He would also go on a 20-minute state drive through selected streets in the capital, Accra.