Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - A knowledge sharing programme to provide a comprehensive policy advice to the government of Ghana, a first model case in sub-Saharan Africa, has been launched by the Korean Government. Mr Lee Sang-hak, Korean Ambassador-designate to Ghana, who announced this during the celebration of the Korean National Day on Friday in Accra, said the programme, code-named: "Building a Basis for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development for Sustainable Economic Growth," is a city plan project for the oil developing area in the Western Region of Ghana.

The Ambassador said the SMEs were dominant sectors of Ghana's industry and would be key players in bringing Ghana to a middle income status adding; "I hope and believe that this programme would not only be useful to Ghana's overall economic development, but also contribute to the development of a solid and strategic group of competitive SMEs." Mr Sang-hak said during the last 31 years, the bond of friendship, partnership and co-operation between his country and Ghana had been steadily and remarkably strengthened and taken to new heights. He said his government had tripled its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for Africa in just three years since the launch of the "Korean Initiative for African Development" in 2006. The Ambassador said his country's support to Ghana's economic development had also been increasing in a more rapid and intensified manner, because Ghana was Korea's important ODA partner. He said he was greatly impressed by the passion with which the Ghanaian leadership was succeeding in bringing democracy and market economy to the country, and the sense of pride and confidence of the citizenry as one of the leading African countries. Mr Sang-hak said he was confident that the coming December elections in Ghana would be successfully conducted to further advance both Ghana's democracy and economic prosperity, while contributing to the peace and stability of the sub-region.

Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, gave the assurance that the presidential and parliamentary elections this year would be peacefully and fairly conducted, to reinforce Ghana's commitment to democracy and good governance.

"As this year is an election year, the Government of Ghana would like to assure members of the Diplomatic Corps and indeed, the entire international community that Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections would be peacefully and fairly conducted." Mr Adjei-Darko, who is also MP for Sunyani West, said the relationship between the two countries had been cordial since 1977 and the subsequent opening of Ghana's Diplomatic Mission in Seoul in 1999 gave clear indication of the importance Ghana attached to the relationship, and the desire to deepen further, the bonds of friendship and co-operation.

He expressed his government's appreciation to Korea for its assistance and contribution to Ghana's economic development, especially support to human resource development through the granting of scholarships for short and long term courses in Korea.