Tripoli (Libya), Nov. 30, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday crystallised moves for the resumption of bilateral relations between Ghana and the Czech Republic in the interest of their peoples. The Ghanaian leader recalled with fond memories the relations that existed between Accra and Prague in the early days of Ghana as a Republic, and said Ghana was ready to strengthen its relationship with the Czech Republic.

"This is the right time for us to renew our friendship to do what we can do for each other," President Mills said in a bilateral meeting with Czech President Vaclav Klaus on the sidelines of the third Africa-EU Summit, underway in Tripoli, the Libyan capital.

Ghana sees the Czech Republic as an ally for mutual development and the Government, under the Mills Administration, has taken giant steps for increased bilateral relations as it has followed up with the appointment of an Ambassador, the organisation of a trade and investment forum attended by the Vice President, and the holding of bilateral talks by the two heads of state.

At the talks, the two Presidents agreed on a state visit by the Czech President to Ghana next year as a firm commitment to the renewed relationship between the two nations. The details for the visit are to be worked out by the foreign missions of the two nations.

President Mills expressed appreciation to the Czech Republic for the friendship dating back to the 1960s, for their assistance and co-operation in the areas of technology transfer, the establishment of a sugar factory in the Central Region that transformed the lives of the people, as well as its programme for human resource development through scholarship schemes. President Mills urged the Czech Republic, seen as a highly industrialised nation, to see Ghana as a safe investment destination. Ghana is looking for partnership for investment in a number of areas such as agriculture, tourism, housing, ICT, environmental management, waste management, energy and infrastructure development among others. He welcomed the Czech Republic to explore investment opportunities in Ghana and get back on the track that existed between the two countries in the 1960s.

President Klaus praised Ghana's democratic credentials and commended President Mills' governance style of allowing state governance structures a free hand to operate. 30 Nov. 10