Accra, June 28, GNA - A High Commission for Australia would be opened in the country on Wednesday June 30, 2004 to provide full range of consular and passport services to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

A statement issued on Monday by the High Commission said the Commission would operate temporarily from the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra, until the completion of a new Chancery Building at Cantonment in early 2005.

It announced that the Australian High Commissioner-Designate, Mr Jonathan Richardson would present his credentials to President John Agyekum Kufuor in the ensuing weeks.

The statement urged Australians living in and travelling to Ghana and other countries in the West Africa Sub-Region to register their contact details through telephone number 021-781979 or visit the online registration services at www.orao.gov.au.

It said the Australian Government had announced that from July 1, 2004 persons in Ghana wishing to apply for a visa to Australia would be able to do so at a number or locations to be named later.

The statement recounted the relationship between Ghana and Australia, which it said shared a history of constructive cooperation in a variety of international forums, particularly the Commonwealth, where both countries had been active in advocating, shared values of peace, democracy and freedom.

It said Australian investment in the gold mining sector in Ghana currently totals several hundred million dollars, with many Australians working in mining and associated industries in Ghana.