Dr Grace Amponsah Ababio, Ghana's Ambassador to the Netherlands, has expressed a hope that the fruitful relationship between the two countries would be intensified by way of increased Dutch direct investments in Ghana.

She noted that from a trading relationship that focused on exchange of Ghanaian gold, ivory, slaves and cocoa for Dutch textiles, weapons and consumer goods, the two countries have advanced to a stage where the Netherlands had become one of Ghana's most important trading partners.

Dr Ababio made the observations in a preface to a book on relations between Ghana and the Netherlands, "Merchants, Migrants and Missionaries", written by 14 contributors from Ghana and the Netherlands.

The 158 page hardbound book, published jointly by KIT Publishers and Sub-Saharan Publishers of Ghana, covered most important areas of contact between

Dutch and Ghanaians over the centuries. Mr Alexander Heldring, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, would launch the book on 18 April, at a ceremony in Accra, as part of the celebration of 300 years of Dutch/Ghanaian relations.

A release issued in Accra said Dr Ababio noted that it was the responsibility of both countries to strive to build a future that was even more advantageous to them. "We must ensure that out of the ashes of that which was wrong, a new future blossoms, a future of which unborn generations of our two countries can be proud of", he said.