Sekondi, March 27, GNA - Miss Pamela Bridgewater, United States ambassador to Ghana has said that the present good trade and military relations between her country and Ghana would be strengthened for the common interest of the two sides.

She said apart from trade and military, her office would promote mutual investment and tourism.

Ms. Bridgewater said this when she paid courtesy call on Mr. Joseph Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, at Sekondi as part of her four-day tour of the region.

She would visit project and institutions including the Norpalm Oil processing factory, Holy Child Training College, the Sekondi Naval Base, the Sekondi School for the Deaf and the Ankasa Forest Reserve. Miss Bridgewater said constant supply of electricity was needed to ensure increased production at all levels.

She appealed to the Minister to ensure that ongoing expansion works at the Takoradi International Company (TICO) at Aboadze, near Takoradi would be beneficial to both Ghana and the USA. TICO is owned by CMS of the US and uses thermal power to generate electricity.

Ms. Bridgewater said Emory S. Land, a US naval ship would visit Ghana in April this year to assist the Ghana Navy in the repair of some of its ships and that the crew would embark on joint exercises covering health, sanitation and community projects to improve military civilian relationship.

The Ambassador said the relationship between the Ghana Army and the North Dakota National Guard would facilitate the exchange of ideas, and equipment and logistics handling.

She appealed to the government to ensure that it maximised the use of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

Mr Aidoo urged the US to assist the Ghana Navy with speedboats to enable it to check the activities of smugglers. Mr. Aidoo urged her to woo investors into the region in particular and the country as a whole to promote tourism and trade. Mr. Nate Bhlum, Refugee Coordinator of the US Embassy, denied reports that that the US government had decided to resettle Sudanese Refugees in Ghana.