Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor, has conferred a state honour, Companion of the Order of Volta, on the Chief Executive of the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation, Mr John Danilovich.

This is in recognition of exceptional commitment he has demonstrated towards the success of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana Compact and faith in the country's bright future. President Kufuor personally decorated him with the honour at the Credentials Hall of the Castle, Osu, on Wednesday evening. The MCA is a US Government reward to countries that govern well, invest in their peoples and promote private sector development. Since Mr Danilovich's assumption of office as CEO of the MCC in November 7, 2005, a total of 6.3 billion dollars has been administered to developing countries that have met the criteria for selection to benefit from the programme.

Ghana, which is one of the beneficiaries, is receiving 547 million dollars to help modernize agriculture. President Kufuor said Mr Danilovich had shown a resolve to work hand-in-hand with Ghana to realize the goal of reducing poverty. The country has got a good partner to set the pace and transform the face of the country's agriculture.

The MCA Compact, he said, was a signal project, the success of which would have a knock-on effect on the economy. The CEO of the MCC praised Ghana for maintaining its strong position in terms of good governance, investing in its people and transparency, factors that influenced its selection for US development support.

The MCC-Ghana partnership, he said, was going to be a big success. Earlier in the day, Mr Danilovich had joined President Kufuor to break the ground to mark the official commencement of reconstruction work to upgrade the 14.1 kilometre Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam Junction single carriageway into a three-lane dual carriageway, a road transport project under the Ghana's MCA.