The President, HE Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor has stressed the Government’s determination to make Ghana a beacon in the West African sub-region. He said the Government would institute measures nurtured on the basis and principles of good governance which, he said, constitutes the panacea for stability and accelerated economic growth of the country.

President Kufuor thanked Ghanaians in the UK for their support prior to the historic 2000 elections which ushered the Government into office and promised Ghanaians that the Government would remain resolute in the discharge of its responsibilities and implementation of policies which would ensure orderly development of the country.

The President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor made the remarks at Forum 2003 organised by the Ghana High Commission in London to discuss issues of national concern and those affecting the Ghanaian community in the UK.

The forum, the second to be organized by the Mission since 2001, was attended by over 1500 Ghanaians drawn from over 100 Ghanaian associations and groups in the UK including representatives of political parties.

The event, interspersed with the singing of patriotic songs and cultural dances, commenced with prayers by Rev. Francis Amenu, the Minister of the Ghana Ministry in London and the Chief Imam of the Ghanaian Community in London, Alhaji Ahmed Jumba. Libation was poured by Nana Kwame Adarkwa, Abesimhene.

Dignitaries present at the event included Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador D.K Osei, Secretary to the President, H.E. Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, and his wife Mrs. Marian Osei, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner and his wife Mrs. Edith Baah-Duodu, and senior officials of the Ghana High Commission

President Kufuor took the opportunity to underscore some notable gains of his Government since winning the 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

On good governance, he said the Government had moved to consolidate it by decriminalizing free speech, strict adherence to the rule of law, increased transparency in Government business and freedom of expression.

Touching on the economy, President Kufuor said the Government was moving the nation forward through prudent and appropriate fiscal and monetary policies and cited, as examples, the reduction of inflation to 12% from 41% and decline of interest rate to 24.5% from 52% as at January, 2001.

President Kufuor said, amid cheers, that the maintenance of macro-economic stability will continue so long as the NPP administration remained in office.

With regard to the HIPC initiative, President Kufuor said the move had been beneficial resulting in the cancellation of loans from donor community and financial institutions. He said HIPC yielded 400 billion Cedis to the nation in 2002 out of which an amount of 118 billion Cedis was allocated to 110 districts for specific projects.

President Kufuor commended Ghanaians for sending remittances home in support of the families, their business ventures and for putting up buildings and encouraged them to increase the transfers which amounted to US$1.3 billion last year.

He touched on a number of projects which started during the year including the construction of roads in many parts of the country. He mentioned arterial roads out of Accra – Accra Aflao, Accra – Kumasi, Accra – Mamfe, Kwame Nkrumah Circle – Achimota, and the construction of six lane circle to Achimota being the initial phase of the Accra – Kumasi highway.

On foreign relations, he said the Government had worked relentlessly towards improving relations with Ghana’s neighbours through interactions and added that his recent trips outside the country had helped to put Ghana’s needs and interest forcefully at both international conferences and bilateral meetings with the country’s friends.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Osei said Ghanaians in the UK were resolved in their belief that the country would reach the heights which the nation’s forefathers dreamt about and ordained by God.

The forum provided an opportunity for members of the public to put direct questions to the President and the members of his entourage. Despite the time constraint, 25 questions were asked with the President and the Deputy Foreign Minister providing the answers.

The questions and comments from the floor centred among others, on operations of Ghana Airways, the Cash and Carry system, the JSS scheme, importation of right hand drive vehicles into Ghana, the need to provide incentives to Ghanaian nurses and the recent increase in petroleum prices, purchase of vehicle for Speaker of Parliament, revamping of Ghana Railway system and difficulties facing Ghanaians in the Diaspora when searching for jobs after their courses abroad.